More Australians report feeling lonely. This WA program is trialling a new idea to help

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At a time when world events and cost-of-living pressures are contributing to rising levels of anxiety, the ability to connect with others has never been more crucial to our well-being.

However, for many Australians, the experience of loneliness, isolation, and social disconnection is a daily reality.

A 2023 study found that one in six people aged 15 and over reported often feeling lonely. This rises to nearly 30 per cent among those over 60, and to 35 per cent for people living in rural Australia.

The World Health Organisation recognises social disconnection as a global public health issue which places an enormous burden on our already strained health care systems. This matters because those who experience chronic loneliness are at higher risk of mental illness, chronic disease, AOD misuse, and homelessness.

Our GP clinics and emergency departments are filled with patients with symptoms of illness whose obvious needs are typically met with medication.

System strain and appointment times simply don’t allow for the level of curiosity required to ask and understand what else is happening in a person’s life, or to consider........

© WA Today