DALY CITY– At its regular meeting last February 12, the City Council of the City of Daly City declared loneliness a public health crisis.
United States Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy has issued “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The US Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community,” which highlights the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection, emphasizing the significant impact on mental, physical, and societal health. Loneliness has a profound impact on health and is comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It leads to poor health outcomes including an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression, and a higher likelihood of premature death.
Dr. Hakan Ozcelik, Professor of Management for the College of Business at Sacramento State University shared that loneliness is an unpleasant emotional condition that creates psychological, physiological, physical, and sociological effects, causing people to behave in ways that are self-defeating.
National studies have identified that race and ethnicity can contribute to the effects of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection. Further research underscores that older immigrants who relocate to another country are particularly susceptible to loneliness, attributed in part to shifts in language, cultural norms, social networks, and experiences of racism and/or discrimination. More than half of Daly City’s residents are foreign born and almost 20 percent are 65 years or older.
Dr. Jei Africa, Director of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services for the County of San Mateo, confirmed that the diverse make-up of Daly City has left many residents prone to loneliness and commended the City Council for being the first City in San Mateo County to consider such an important declaration and invest efforts for the betterment of the community’s wellbeing.
Dr. Phaedra Bell, Education and Health Equity Specialist at the University of California San Francisco, recognized that City governments like Daly City can make a huge impact on social isolation and loneliness by calling attention to the issue.
Through Mayor Juslyn Manalo’s leadership recognizing that loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection exists in Daly City, the City Council unanimously adopted a Resolution Declaring Loneliness a Public Health Crisis.
“Daly City is a diverse community and home to many residents who have come from all over the world,” said Manalo. “We cannot ignore the statistics —l oneliness exists in our City. Declaring loneliness a public health crisis brings awareness and opens up new opportunities to collaborate and partner with the County, as well as local non-profit organizations.” Daly City is committed to begin taking steps as a unified community to build stronger social connections by cultivating a culture of connection and fostering a culture that promotes positive everyday interactions and norms to enhance relationships.
