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Are you experiencing loneliness?

We're here to help:

Given that people are lonely for lots of different reasons, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution.

We know that loneliness is bad for both physical and mental health, so, if you feel lonely it is great that you have found this resource and are maybe considering taking steps to work on it. Here are some different things that researchers and people experiencing loneliness themselves have suggested might be helpful.

It is important to remember that what is given as a suggestion might not be right for you. You should consider the reasons for loneliness and the solutions that feel right for you and your life and interests.

Here are some suggestions to start you off:

Ways to get in touch with more people:

Join groups to meet people with common interests (e.g. Meetup)
Get involved in volunteering
Reach out and get in touch with existing friends and family
Look for activities at local libraries or Neighbourhood Houses
Check out The Bunch Up to meet people in your neighbourhood who share your interests

How to get social support:

Local councils are a good place to start to point you in the right direction for social supports in your community
Reach out to others in your community, websites such as Ask Izzy provide extensive information on clubs and groups in local areas
There are some dedicated community initiatives aimed at helping those experiencing loneliness, such as FriendLine, Good Karma Network and Neighbourhood Connect
Speak to your GP or other health practitioners for advice and support

How to increase social skills:

Formal help from a psychologist or counsellor who could help you work through things like:

Identifying strengths – what has worked well for you in relationships before?
Help determine causes of loneliness and limitations to making connections
Giving you tools to work on challenging thoughts and emotions

What is loneliness?

Research in Australia suggests that many people feel lonely.

It is a natural experience that impacts people of all different ages and walks of life. Loneliness is different from just being alone, you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely, it is the subjective feeling about lacking connection to others.

We asked the community to tell us what they thought:

View the results

What causes loneliness?

We know that people are lonely for many different reasons.

Some people are facing challenges in their lives like the loss of a partner or job, some suffer from anxiety in social situations, others are isolated and don’t have a chance to get in contact with other people.

Please help us understand more about loneliness and break the stigma that surrounds it:

Share your story