A new national survey reveals that one in five Australians aged 18 to 25 report feeling lonely, making them the nation's loneliest age group despite being the most digitally connected generation.
According to Ending Loneliness Together, young people are experiencing a "loneliness crisis," with Associate Professor Michelle Lim, CEO of the organisation, stating that "right now, young people are going through a loneliness crisis in our country."
Health Impacts of Loneliness
Lim explained that loneliness and social isolation are linked to negative health outcomes, including cardiovascular issues, Alzheimer's disease, and mental health disorders such as depression and social anxiety.
The research also found that people in regional and remote areas are 1.3 times more likely to experience loneliness compared to those in urban areas.
A Cross-Generational Friendship
Grace Martin, 24, moved to Melbourne for university and began struggling with loneliness. "You'd think being around so many people your age, you have so much to connect on, it just didn't feel that way," she said.
Determined to find a solution, Grace signed up to the government's Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme, which paired her with Pam, a 75-year-old aged care resident. "Before I knew it got a call about Pam. We really just bonded over music initially and all of her interesting festival experiences," Grace said.
Grace described Pam as "an incredible listener, so patient," noting the challenges Pam faces being around people who are not cognitively at her level.
Volunteering Reduces Risk
Ending Loneliness Together's research found that volunteering significantly reduces the risk of loneliness and social isolation. "Volunteering regularly, it doesn't matter whether it's formal or informal, actually reduces your own risk of social isolation and loneliness by 62 per cent," Lim said.
The study also revealed that spending just one to three hours a week with friends reduces the risk of loneliness by 90 per cent. Lim emphasised the importance of small connections: "Things like having a strong sense of community, regularly sharing with family and friends about how you feel, even things like chatting with neighbours. All those little things make a big difference."
Perspective and Growth
For Grace, the friendship has been transformative. "I always leave with a lot of perspective and it's humbling," she said, highlighting the value of connecting with someone from a different generation.
