Monday, May 4, 2026

A Mental Health Talk on the Quiet Epidemic of Social Isolation

Frances Kim of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health visits San Marino on Wednesday afternoon to discuss isolation’s toll — and the small steps that can help

The body of research linking social isolation to higher risks of depression, cognitive decline, heart disease and even shortened lifespan has grown rapidly enough that the U.S. Surgeon General has called loneliness a public health crisis.

On Wednesday, May 6 at 1 p.m., Frances Kim of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health will bring that conversation to the San Marino Community Center for a free hour-long talk on isolation and what to do about it.

The presentation runs from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in MPR1 at the Community Center, 1800 Huntington Drive in San Marino. No registration is required. Kim will explore how isolation affects mental and physical health and offer practical ideas for staying connected and making the small daily changes that lead to a healthier and more productive life, the city’s program description states.

The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, the largest county-run behavioral health agency in the United States, has spent recent years pushing public-facing programming as part of its Take Action movement, which spotlights mental health resources and events throughout May, recognized nationally as Mental Health Awareness Month. The talk fits squarely within that effort.

For older residents in particular, isolation is often invisible: it doesn’t announce itself the way an accident or an illness does. The San Marino program is one of the rare community sessions that names the issue directly and puts a public health professional in the room to answer questions.

The Health and Wellness Talk on Social Isolation will run on Wednesday, May 6 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. San Marino Community Center, MPR1, 1800 Huntington Drive, San Marino. For more information, call (626) 300-0777 or visit sanmarinoca.gov. Admission is free. Registration is not required.