That immediately increases the time investment required for use. The whole point of the post is that it’s easy because it’s in their back yard. Public pools aren’t relevant here.
Depends on your situation (the availability). I have one in my neighborhood, so it’s literally 8 minutes from my house to being showered off and in the pool. I’ve been to some people’s houses where it takes almost that long to navigate the backyard.
I don’t think my situation is just some happenstance, either. I think it’s not a huge investment for an incredible health and social return anywhere (desert climates possibly excepted? I’m not sure what the environmental impact is, especially compared with a potential reduction in personal pools built/maintained). Every neighborhood should have a pool reachable within 15 minutes and residents should petition for it if there isn’t one, imo. Petitioning obviously isn’t easy, but it’s easier than you’d think
You might be underestimating the impact of mental illness, or of being incredibly obese, on actually getting anywhere. I agree with you, that pool is really close. But these issues make it feel impossibly far away. It’s stupid, but it is what it is, and that’s why we have therapy. If you can afford it.
You’re right, obesity might play a larger role in making that difficult than I was factoring in. I think a significant hurdle is also wearing wet bathing clothes in public/finding public appropriate clothes. I do also think that increasing public pools can do a lot to prevent obesity, but in extant cases, it might not be that helpful.