Loneliness is always a concern during the holidays, but now it’s a concern year-round, and the Kitsap Public Health District is working with others on it.
The U.S. Surgeon General goes so far as to call it a “crisis” and “epidemic.”
The KPHD board talked about the mental health issue at its meeting Nov. 5 and the need for programs to get people interacting with one another, which has taken a dive since the COVID years. “COVID tipped it over from chronic to a crisis,” Bremerton mayor and board member Greg Wheeler said.
Dr. Jay Hughes, chief medical officer of Kitsap Mental Health Services, talked about a recent local forum on isolation and loneliness. He said depression and anxiety can be equal to smoking “15 cigarettes a day.”
He explained that it is more than a psychological state. It triggers a stress response in our bodies. The body tries to correct itself because it feels vulnerable and in a dangerous state. It can be similar to a chronic disease like diabetes, dementia, obesity or sex abuse disorders.
The key to solving the problem is building social connections. Hughes said 30% of the elderly in Kitsap County have not had a visitor in a week, and 10% for a month. He said the problem has been growing for 20 years but has skyrocketed the past five.
Jessica Guidry, KPHD Community Health assistant director, said 86 people from 36 organizations attended the forum. She said it’s not as easy as telling people to “be more social” or “talk to your neighbors more” because isolation is not just personal—community impacts the behavior.
She said lack of transporation is the biggest issue — “How to get to the amazing programs we have in the community.” There are other equity issues like education, health care and culture — “how we treat others.”
Like other mental health issues, society needs to reduce the stigma associated with loneliness, she said, adding society needs to be “inclusive” and “connected.”
“It’s not just the responsibility of mental health providers,” she said, adding education, the faith community and more need to be involved. “It takes a whole village.”
At the forum, participants were asked to list community assets that could help. There were 61 responses, including: parks, schools, farmers markets, churches, libraries, grocery stores, Coffee Oasis, Kitsap Strong and more.
Along with transporation, other barriers include: language, fear, homelessness and more. “We have a lot going for us but a lot to work on as well,” Guidry said.
Participants were then asked about potential solutions, and they came up with 45 ideas, including: Kitsap Block Party, Sit with a Stranger, community education and workplace connection events.
That last idea resonated with KPHD board member Stephen Kutz. “People aren’t collaborating and learning from each other the way we used to,” he said, adding the lack of “frequent interaction in the workplace is a detriment to our society.”
He said when people retire they will be lonely because they didn’t make connections. Young people have a problem, too. “Kids walk down the street together, and their texting each other even though they are right next to each other.”
Board member and Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson said her town already is very intentional about having events to get residents involved. She said there is one every week, and that there are 1,000 parks classes planned next year.
“It makes the community richer,” she said. “We’re doing fun stuff. It’s a happy place. People like being there. People get engaged and out of their homes.”
That’s exactly the message Hughes wanted to get across. “Leaders can create the framework” for connecting people in the community.
Board member Drayton Jackson said when students came back after COVID there were rallies to help them get over the fear of returning. “It was major excitement for them.” He said communities need to do something like that for adults. “Set things up for people to have conversations.”
Board member Michael Watson added: “Loneliness can occur in plain site as well.” He recalled a recent story about a local boy who had a noose put around his neck because he’s gay. While not to that extreme, Watson said he faced challenges when he was young. “I would not be welcome at home if I came out at that time,” he said.
Earlier in the meeting there was talk of the improved KPHD website. Watson said that would be a great place to put a list of all the things people can do to get connected. “How to find out what I can do,” he said.
County commissioner and board member Christine Rolfes said don’t forget the spiritual community. “They are critical in a lot of people’s eyes. Government tends to shy away from religion,” but we need to make sure they’re involved.
In other news
Erickson said in 15 years on the board she has never heard from many of the mental health organizations in the county. Since KPHD is in charge of public health, and because those organizations receive so much money, the board should know more about what’s going on with them.
“They greatly impact Kitsap,” she said, adding KPHD doesn’t know how they work or even who is on their boards. With that knowledge KPHD could possibly help them work together.
KPHD Community Health director Yolanda Fong said she would look into how to incorporate that to “bring partners to the table.”
Fong also gave a short presentation on the annual budget. She said personnel of 130 FTE’s makes up about 80% of it. Money comes from 11 sources with the most from contracts, grants and service fees. There is $13 million in reserves, and $3 million will be used to balance the budget.
Fong admitted more is coming from reserves than usual, but it tracks that and changes will be made if that becomes an issue.
