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OPINION
Can the answer to improving happiness and health be as simple as volunteering?
There is a lot of talk about things we can do to improve health outcomes and overall happiness.
Get support | Friends For Good
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
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:
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:
Have a suggestion?
If you can help improve or create resources for people experiencing loneliness, please get in touch.
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