RECONNECTING
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS HELP RESIDENTS SEEKING SOCIALIZATION By Jennaye Derge
P
eople experienced loneliness before the pandemic. But loneliness is more than just being alone. You can be surrounded by people and still feel a lack of connection, authenticity or trust with those around you. That disconnected feeling increased tenfold in the last few years, making it more and more difficult to open up once we’ve distanced ourselves, but according to experts, it’s imperative that we try.
group Creating Connections. “It impacts heart disease, and it increases the possibility of stroke. In the mental health realm, it’s associated with depression and suicide. It actually shortens your lifespace anywhere from 8 to 15 years.”
Those who were lonely before COVID-19 and those who became lonely during the last few years are finding it harder and harder to reach out, but fortunately for Durango, we have a few groups already working to teach us how.
Many studies in the United States have found that social isolation increases a person’s risk of premature death with causes spanning from heart disease, stroke, dementia and suicide.
“It’s as dangerous or more dangerous than smoking 15 cigarettes a day in the long run,” said Lynn Westberg, the organizer with local
Since the start of the pandemic, people have had to grapple with isolation like never before, and stay-at-home orders exacerbated the problem.
Creating Connections, a La Plata Neighbors Creating Connections Colorado Initiative – a chapter of the Community Health Action Coalition – was formed specifically to help combat mental health issues in connection with loneliness in La Plata County. The group’s goal is to give people the resources and opportunities to learn how to connect themselves and others to
BUT LONELINESS IS MORE THAN JUST BEING ALONE. YOU CAN BE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE AND STILL FEEL A LACK OF CONNECTION, AUTHENTICITY OR TRUST WITH THOSE AROUND YOU. 18
FOUR CORNERS HEALTHY LIVING
