From time to time, many of us will go through periods of loneliness, of feeling uncomfortably isolated – lonely.
According to the research, “more than 6 million Australians feel lonely. That’s 1 in 3 people”. Furthermore, despite it being such a common experience, “one-in-two people are too embarrassed to talk about it due to the misconceptions within our community”. (See https://lonelinessawarenessweek.com.au/)
Sometimes the sense of loneliness (and its causes) can be temporary – disconnection from friends, a relationship breakdown, or family drama – but other times it can be longer lasting and more problematic. Being lonely and isolated “for the long haul”, chronic loneliness, can bring elevated risk of mental and physical health challenges, and of anxiety, depression and thoughts of self-harm. (See ADA’s The Little Blue Book of MENTAL HEALTH COVID-19 Edition Pp 22-23)
But, there is hope, and since the difficulties we all faced through the Covid-19 pandemic, more people are ready to discuss the challenges associated with loneliness, and just how common it is in our society.
This week, we recognise Australia’s first Loneliness Awareness Week, an initiative from Ending Loneliness Together and AIA Australia (a leading life insurance specialist that hold a vision to make Australia one of the healthiest nations in the world) that prompts Australians to learn more about loneliness in order to be effective support mechanisms for anyone who might be struggling with loneliness.
The campaign is shining a spotlight on the millions of Australians who are #LonelyNotAlone by sharing stories and facts in the hope of improving understanding and of ‘reaching out’ to those experiencing loneliness.
Loneliness Awareness Week recognises that reducing loneliness is a goal that we must tackle together as a community. In this, we all have a role to play; we are social animals after all.
If you’d like to learn more about Loneliness Awareness Week, or loneliness in general, please visit the link below for a bunch of informative resources. With a ‘loneliness epidemic’ here (and in many developed economies), we can all benefit from a better understanding of loneliness; how to spot the warning signs and how we can support someone who is experiencing these isolating feelings. (See https://lonelinessawarenessweek.com.au/)
If this information raised any concerns for you, or if you are struggling with feelings of loneliness, please do speak to your GP, they can help you back to good health, or call a helpline: LIFELINE 13 11 14 or BeyondBlue 1300 22 4636.