San Mateo has become the first county in America to officially recognize loneliness as a public health emergency. The declaration, introduced by County Board Supervisor David Canepa, also proposed countywide resolutions meant to spur further action.
“This is a problem that has been building for decades,” said United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to Axios. “[The COVID-19 pandemic] certainly worsened it, and poured fuel on the fire.”
During the pandemic students experienced loneliness for a variety of reasons.
“I was moving from Connecticut to California,” said freshman Benjamin Marshall. “So I didn’t really have any friends.”
Combating loneliness can be difficult, as it is shown to increase stress and affects physical health as well as mental, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. However, focusing on hobbies or sports can help people improve their loneliness and spread a sense of community. Canepa’s resolution and the declaration of a loneliness epidemic are meant to improve the wellbeing of the public, especially those who suffer from loneliness.
According to Canepa, around 45% of people suffer from loneliness. A study by the CDC shows that loneliness and social isolation have been linked to an increased risk of many diseases, and a meta-analysis of 90 studies examining the link between loneliness, social isolation and premature death showed that social isolation increases the chance of premature death by 32%. The study also states that loneliness increases a person’s chances of an early death by 14%, which is why the World Health Organization has labeled it as a pressing global threat. The CDC reports it costs the U.S. economy an estimated $406 billion per year as lonely workers allegedly cost their employers on average $4,200 due to lowered productivity.
In a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom, Canepa’s office proposed creating a Minister of Loneliness modeled after similar positions in the United Kingdom and Japan, in the state government, who would work toward combating the loneliness epidemic by introducing more social events, fighting for policies like the Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults Act and generally strengthening social infrastructure.
“There needs to be awareness in families, friend groups and communities so that people know they aren’t the only ones feeling lonely, and I think that having a Minister of Loneliness position would definitely spread awareness,” said health teacher Barbara Beaumont.
While social media was useful during the pandemic, there was a strong correlation between it and the loneliness epidemic, especially as it can have negative effects as a a form of entertainment.
“People put the best parts of their life on social media, so when you feel lonely, and you see other people having a good time, you want to have a good time too, which can make you feel more disconnected from the people around you,” Beaumont said.
According to a study from the National Institutes of Health, more time spent on social media was associated with higher levels of loneliness, especially for people who used social media as the sole means for maintaining relationships, which was extremely common during the pandemic.
Despite this, social media can be a helpful resource when used in positive ways, which is why spreading awareness about harmful effects can help mitigate the loneliness epidemic.
“I stayed in touch with my friends during COVID though Messenger and Discord, but I didn’t really feel lonely,” said sophomore Henry Rezende.
Aragon offers free mental health counseling and requires students to take a semester of health class to graduate. In this class, students meet guest speakers, are taught habits to live a healthy life and are provided with hotlines.
Although San Mateo County is the first to address the loneliness epidemic in America, receiving national coverage, Japan and the United Kingdom have also recognized the same issues in their countries, and are taking steps to improve. By spreading awareness and directing funding towards combating loneliness, the government is working to minimize the loneliness epidemic.
