Today is the day. Filled with roses and chocolate and corny cards. But while many of us enjoy time with our loved ones, family and friends, for others it can be a particularly isolating day serving only to remind them of their seclusion. And it’s not only Valentine’s Day that people feel this way.
The World Health Organisation has announced that loneliness, and the sicknesses that are derived from it, is the next public health issue.
It states that, “High-quality social connections are essential to our mental and physical health and our well-being. Social isolation and loneliness are important, yet neglected, social determinants for people of all ages – including older people.”
“Social isolation and loneliness are widespread, with an estimated 1 in 4 older people experiencing social isolation and between 5 and 15 per cent of adolescents experiencing loneliness. A large body of research shows that social isolation and loneliness have a serious impact on physical and mental health, quality of life, and longevity. The effect of social isolation and loneliness on mortality is comparable to that of other well-established risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.”
What is loneliness?
Lifeline defines loneliness as, “the feeling of wanting greater social connection than you have. Loneliness is not the same as being alone. You can spend time totally secluded in a cabin in the bush and not feel lonely. Equally, you can be surrounded by familiar faces at a vibrant party, yet still feel completely isolated.”
It’s important to know that the term loneliness generally relates to the quality of our relationships, rather than their quantity. All of us have different appetites for social connectedness, so it’s not about how many friends you have, but more how close you feel to them.
What is isolation costing us personally, and to the Australian economy?
A report conducted by KPMG in collaboration with the Groundswell Foundation has found that more than a quarter of Australians experience frequent loneliness, including over a third of young adults.
And loneliness is not simply an emotional burden, but a physical one too, with physical and mental health repercussions estimated to cost the Australian economy some $2.7 billion per year in direct healthcare support.
And beyond the economic costs, loneliness is also thought to be a silent killer, with lonely people being at a 26% increased risk of death.
KPMG Mental Health Advisory Lead Andrew Dempster said, “Loneliness is a public health issue that many Australians identify with. However, it’s at risk of being trivialised because its impacts remain widely unrecognised. There is robust evidence to suggest that loneliness is detrimental to physical and mental health and can have profound socio-economic impacts.
Interestingly, both the UK and Japan have appointed loneliness ministers designed to understand, resource and tackle the issue. Which has prompted Ending Loneliness Together CEO Michelle Lim to say that the Australian government must do more to fix it and that “loneliness is a huge problem in the Australian community.”
Who is most at risk of loneliness?
Loneliness can affect anyone. However, there are some groups that are more susceptible than others. Young adults are at particularly high risk, with 37–50% of people aged 18–24 reported to be lonely. Older people, parents, particularly single parents and people who live alone are also more impacted. It is also an issue among minority groups. First Nations people, those who identify as LGBTQIA+ and migrants experience higher levels of loneliness compared to national averages
What can we do to combat loneliness?
We spoke to clinical psychologist Dr Jodie Lowinger on how we can help ourselves – and others – combat this silent killer.
Build social connections
Invest time and effort in building and nurturing relationships with friends, family, or colleagues. Make plans to meet up, engage in shared activities, or just spend time together. Recognise the power of technology to stay in touch with friends and loved ones virtually, particularly if distance or other barriers make in-person interactions challenging. Schedule regular video calls, participate in online communities or join virtual events.
Get involved in activities you value
Think about the things that are important to you – the things you value, and join clubs or groups that align. If you seek out groups that are in line with your interests and hobbies then you’re more likely to meet people with shared values and establish connections based on common interests. Find out about volunteering opportunities that enable you to get involved in your community and provide opportunities to meet and connect with others.
Learn tools to manage anxiety and boost mood
Mental health challenges can have a significant impact on a person’s social connections. Social anxiety (a fear of being judged negatively or a fear of rejection) and performance anxiety (a fear of not being good enough or a fear of making a mistake) can result in individuals avoiding social situations and remaining isolated even if they’d love to connect with others. Depression can tell a person to withdraw because they aren’t worth it. Engage a therapist who is trained in scientifically supported strategies to overcome anxiety and boost mood and help you to re engage in the things that you want to do, not the things that worry or depression are telling you to do.
Practice self care
Engage in activities such as exercise, meditation or creativity which involve group settings and have the added benefit of being mood boosters.
Get a pet
Pets can also be a wonderful way to combat loneliness, providing companionship and emotional support.
Support others
If you know someone else who is lonely or isolated, take the initiative to reach out to the person regularly through phone calls, video chats, or in-person visits. Let them know that you’re there for them and available to listen whenever they need someone to talk to. Listen without judgement and offer empathy and understanding. Sometimes, having someone to listen to can make a significant difference to how a person is feeling. Encourage the person to participate in social activities or join clubs, groups, or classes where they can meet new people and make friends. Offer to accompany them to events or introduce them to people in your own social circle. If mental health issues are a concern, encourage the person to seek support from a skilled therapist and offer to help them find support.
Trent Knox, from the 440 Run Club, has purposefully set out to combat personal and community loneliness with this early morning running group.
“One of the biggest causes of stress and what affects our mental health is loneliness. We’ve all experienced it at some stage in our life. What I’ve seen and what I’ve found is how important a relationship with yourself is. It’s finding that connection, and I’ve found that through community activity, having a set of practices to lean in on daily, we open ourselves to connection.”
“For example, getting up before the sunrise, movement, practicing meditation/mindfulness, jumping in the ocean or cold shower. And all of these can be done through community groups. What I’m getting here is the more work you do for yourself in connecting to yourself, the better the connection you will have with the people around you. Our mantra is Get up, Lace up & Turn up. If you practice this everyday and turn up to the things that are uncomfortable, it’s very hard to not connect, and the loneliness you once experienced will dissolve over time. The opposite of connection is isolation and we need to stay out of that space.”
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