THE rich San Mateo County in California’s Silicon Valley has declared loneliness a public health emergency, the first of its kind in the United States.
Silicon Valley, home to tech giants like Facebook and YouTube, saw a median home price of $1,573,470 in the third quarter of 2023.
Supervisor David Canepa highlighted the severity of loneliness, likening its impact to smoking a pack of cigarettes daily.
“Loneliness has a profound impact on health and is comparable to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day,” according to Supervisor David Canepa.
He also said that about 45 of San Mateo residents are struggling with isolation.
The pandemic also exacerbated feelings of loneliness.
Canepa also urged the California state to appoint a ‘minister of loneliness’ to help people who are suffering in silence to restore meaningful connections that were lost during the pandemic.
US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy took note of the said development.
He also emphasized the critical role of social connection in enhancing health and community resilience, especially amid the pandemic.
Earlier, Murthy said that loneliness leads to poor health outcomes, like depression, heart attack, and even early death.
Meanwhile, Canepa said the decision to declare loneliness a public health emergency was influenced by Japan and the United Kingdom.
Canepa’s move comes months after the World Health Organization (WHO) dubbed loneliness as a pressing health threat.
According to WHO loneliness and social isolation is not just a problem faced by older people in high-income countries, contrary to perceptions.
Data from Statista suggests that quarter of older people experience social isolation, while 5-15% of adolescents experience loneliness, but who said these figures are likely to be underestimations.
Mental health experts propose various strategies to combat loneliness, including reassessing social media use and fostering stronger social communities.
