Young Australians Suffering from Loneliness at Alarming Rates

More than 2 in 5 young Australians (43%) feel lonely, according to a recent report, with one in seven experiencing persistent loneliness lasting at least two years. This is a critical issue that warrants attention and action.

Key Takeaways:

• The report highlights the alarming rates of loneliness among young Australians, with 43% of those aged 15 to 25 feeling lonely, and one in seven experiencing persistent loneliness.
• Technology plays a complex role in both helping and hindering connections among young people, with social media being a lifesaver for marginalized individuals but also a source of exclusion and loneliness for others.
• Associate Professor Michelle Lim from the University of Sydney emphasizes the need to address loneliness as a health and public health issue, rather than solely a personal problem.
• Persistent loneliness can lead to significant health consequences, including increased risk of psychological distress, cardiometabolic disease, and Alzheimer's disease.
• The World Health Organisation Commission to Social Connection Report highlights the need for national strategies to address loneliness, with only one in four countries having a costing of loneliness, estimated to be around $2.7 billion per year.

Statistics:

• 43% of young Australians (aged 15 to 25) feel lonely.
• One in seven young Australians experience persistent loneliness lasting at least two years.
• Persistent loneliness increases the risk of psychological distress by seven times.
• The estimated annual cost of loneliness in health utilization is around $2.7 billion.
• Only one in four countries have a costing of loneliness.

Sources:

• Report of the WHO Commission on Social Connection
• Transcript of interview with Associate Professor Michelle Lim
• HILDA Survey data
• World Health Organisation Commission to Social Connection Report