A new report sheds light on the crisis of loneliness facing Australian men. Most importantly, it uncovers shocking new data on their mental health and wellbeing. As per the study, 31% of men feel that their mental load adversely affects their work productivity. This crisis more so lies outside of our cities. One in three regional or rural Australian men experience isolation due to their remoteness, illustrating the severity of this widespread problem.
For 42-year-old father Mark Burns, life was about to change drastically. He came to the conclusion that decompressing with some booze and a few episodes of Netflix each evening after work wouldn’t be a long-term fix. “I was just burning the candle at both ends,” he reflected, describing his routine of late-night Netflix binges and little sleep. After some prodding from his wife, Burns knew he needed to do more and take control of his health.
We learned through our Mentoring Men initiative that 42 percent of men attempt to solve their personal problems by themselves. Yet this approach puts their mental health at greater risk. National Associate Professor Michelle Lim brought a laser focus to the economic impact of loneliness. She noted that Australia is spending an estimated $2.7 billion annually due to “health underutilisation” due to social isolation.
The other major driver of this crisis is mental health care avoidance. Almost one in four Australians over 15 have put off getting help because they can’t afford to. The brunt of that impact falls on men 35-50. Indeed, one in two of them report that stress or anxiety is having an overwhelming impact on their day to day life.
Filipe Gama e Silva, an advocate for mental health awareness, stated, “We’re in a loneliness crisis across Australia.” During his speech he didn’t shy away from the devastating impact, drawing a direct connection between loneliness and increased suicide rates in men. “Men who are lonely are twice as likely to take their own lives,” he noted. These grim realities highlight the need for pragmatic solutions that actually work.
After his friend Mark Burns truly battled with COVID-19, he began to walk. This encouraging development ultimately led him to found The Man Walk, a national movement that fosters social connection among men. Over the past seven years, The Man Walk has engaged approximately 136,656 men across 83 locations, providing a platform for them to converse and connect while walking together.
“I started walking in the morning at the suggestions of my lovely wife Beck to start the day on the right foot.” – Mark Burns
With enough commitment, further Burns’ dedication to physical activity led to this incredible body transformation. He eventually lost 20 kilos and reaped the benefits of camaraderie and support with other participants. This powerful movement doesn’t just get men healthy physically, it helps men start talking openly about their feelings and experiences.
Associate Professor Lim identified a positive trend. Close to 40% of the dialogue in these mentorships centers around relationship issues, including with family members or significant others. She observed that loneliness is an equity concern as it disproportionately impacts people who are poorer and from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. These key findings demonstrate the complexity of loneliness and the ways in which it intersects with other social determinants.
“Loneliness and social isolation is also potentially an equity issue,” said Associate Professor Lim. “It predominantly influences or disproportionately affects people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds or living in more deprived neighborhoods.”
As the conversation about mental health shifts, advocates and experts are looking for more holistic answers. Gama e Silva underscored the urgent importance of understanding the broader impacts of loneliness. The time for talk is over,” he cautioned, arguing that without action, lives will be lost and more families will suffer.
“We do expect that this $2.7 billion is very much a conservative amount,” Gama e Silva explained. “What we don’t have is really a proper solution to address that.”
