Bay Area County Declares Loneliness a Public Health Crisis
San Mateo County – in the heart of the Bay Area, between the San Jose and San Francisco airports – has become the first county in the nation to declare loneliness a public health crisis, NBC News reports.
A slew of research shows that loneliness is detrimental to our mental and physical health, leading to an increased risk of dementia, depression, anxiety, heart disease, stroke, and even early death.
Last November, a study found that “people in the U.K. who lived alone and were not visited by friends or family had a 39% increased risk of premature death compared with people whose loved ones visited daily,” according to NBC News. The article added that a 2010 meta-analysis found that “social relationships — or lack thereof — had a greater influence on the risk of death than obesity.”
While the county declaration does not specifically set aside funds to combat loneliness, it indicates the priority the county’s placing on addressing the issue, said Vice President of the Board of Supervisors David Canepa, who introduced the legislation. It also validates the feelings of many residents.
“What we’re trying to do is to really get people out of the corners and say, ‘Hey, look, there are a lot of people who are feeling like you. You’re not alone. And moving forward, here are some of the things that we can do to support you,'” he said.
In May 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s May 2023 issued a public advisory titled “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.” Murthy applauded the county’s move in a post on X.
Canepa said he was influenced by that advisory, along with the appointment of national ministers to address loneliness in the U.K. and Japan. He has urged Governor Gavin Newsom to appoint such an official for the state of California.
Who is most at risk of loneliness?
Older adults – Seniors face a higher risk of loneliness in general, since they are more likely to live alone or to have chronic illnesses that leave them homebound. People over 65 make up 18% of the county’s population, which is two points higher than the state average.
Teens and young adults – Teenagers and young adults are another source of concern for Canepa. Social media use is high in this demographic, and research shows that heavy social media use can increase feelings of loneliness. Another factor detrimental to young people’s mental health is the high-achieving, high-stress atmosphere of Silicon Valley.
“You have Stanford, which is in Palo Alto right next to our county line. You have all these educational institutions. People are dealing with, ‘Oh my God, I have to fill out my college recommendation. Oh, my goodness, what school am I going to get accepted to?’ There’s so much pressure on our young people,” Canepa said.
University of Arizona psychology professor David Sbarra urged a wider view, examining how systemic factors – like the minimum wage forcing people to work two jobs to make ends meet – play a role in social isolation. Nevertheless, he recognized the value of governments – on the local, state, and national levels – to make socialization a public health priority.
“Thinking of your relationships as important to your health, as you do physical activity, diet and sleep is really the key messaging here,” he said.
Read the full NBC News article here.
Bendix, Aria. “Silicon Valley county becomes first in U.S. to declare loneliness a public health emergency.” NBCNews.com, 2 Feb 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/health/mental-health/silicon-valley-county-loneliness-health-emergency-rcna136777.
Photo credit: Alfred Twu, Wikimedia Commons