Loneliness is becoming a key concern in Australia, especially for young people. As Loneliness Awareness Week – August 4th – August 10th – occurs this week, the theme this year is “Moments Matter.” The campaign aims to bring attention to the important part relationships and community play in combating loneliness. This is particularly urgent today when the reality of social isolation seems more inescapable than ever.
A new report, A Call for Connection, provides a wakeup call on loneliness faced by young Australians. Around one in seven young people are often lonely. Perhaps even more shocking, 43 percent of young people, ages 15 to 25, say they often feel lonely. Together these findings paint a startling picture of a rapidly worsening epidemic. Immediate action and systemic changes are necessary to address the root causes of loneliness.
This push is being led in part by Associate Professor Michelle Lim. She has long served as the Chief Executive and Scientific Chair of Ending Loneliness Together. She points out that we don’t like to think about the fact that chronic loneliness can be as damaging and enduring as any serious health condition.
“What worries me, though, is the one in seven who experienced more persistent loneliness and when I say persistent, I mean we asked them about levels of loneliness in one year and then came back to them the next year,” – Associate Professor Michelle Lim.
On February 24, 2021, the Standing Committee on Social Issues expressed deep concern with this report. They launched an action plan with 20 recommendations to combat loneliness as a priority issue in New South Wales. Youth of color, immigrant youth, LGBTQ youth – they all need spaces that are safe, positive, empowering, and inclusive – now more than ever before. It’s critical to engage young people in their creation.
Lauren underscores that loneliness is an intricate issue. For one, she explains, a number of elements can exacerbate a person’s perception of this sensation.
“We looked at who was experiencing and staying lonely, we found that certain things made things worse. Like if you had a poor physical health status, a poor mental health status, if you’re unemployed, if you have financial strain, all those things are making people not just lonely, but staying lonely.” – Lauren Stracey.
The report calls for comprehensive community support by advocating for more accessible and inclusive spaces where young people can foster relationships. Additionally, we provide free or low-cost engagement opportunities. Whether virtual or physical, these initiatives promote inclusivity and understanding while breaking down barriers and feelings of isolation.
Cathy Kezelman, President of the Blue Knot Foundation, highlights the mental health effects related to deep loneliness. In her first point, she emphasizes that loneliness can lead to a self-perpetuating cycle of toxic thoughts and actions. This downward spiral can wreak havoc on long-term mental and physical health.
“I think what happens when loneliness is profound is that it can obviously really impact our mental health. Obviously we can go into a spiral just with our own thoughts and ruminate and that can be very, very unhealthy,” – Cathy Kezelman.
Meanwhile, Australia is preparing to enforce a national age ban on social media for users younger than 16, following the rollout of the ban in December. Many are rightfully concerned about how young people will interact without the digital platforms that have turned into an increasingly important aspect of their social lives. Experts caution that when closing these online pathways, there needs to be provision of in-person options that are at least some equivalent.
Professor Lim makes a strong policy case for youth hubs, coordinated, one-stop spaces for young people to build relationships.
“The idea of having youth hubs and new spaces, it’s really about making sure that if we’re taking away one way of being connected, that we are replacing it with an alternative,” – Associate Professor Michelle Lim.
These hubs are envisioned as safe environments where young people can gather, interact, and build relationships with peers and mentors. To create spaces for community, Stracey stresses that these spaces do not need to be traditional community centers. Community gathering spaces or underutilized community assets can do the trick.
“What we’re hearing from young people is that they actually need to have their own safe spaces to be able to feel like they’re connected and belonging in our community more broadly,” – Lauren Stracey.
That’s why the report’s recommendations focus on the dire need for systemic change. Combating loneliness requires a reframing mindset. Instead, we need to own up to the larger social and economic conditions that lead to isolation, instead of just making it an individual’s responsibility to fix.
Associate Professor Lim encourages communities to create environments that are more supportive of healthy social connectedness.
“We’re living in an environment that’s actually keeping us lonely. So what we really need to do is not just always put the onus on the individual themselves, but really those broader community, economic, and social forces that are really at play,” – Associate Professor Michelle Lim.
