Lost in the Crowd
WORDS BY KATIE STEDMAN.
We look at the prevalence of loneliness in Australia, and a few ways to combat it. What happens when we have too much space?
Touch is essential to human life. It’s one of the five senses, a love language, and the forced absence of touch or contact is a severe form of punishment. In such a large country, and after a global pandemic, how are Australians coping with loneliness?
There are 26 million people in Australia. We are the sixth largest country in the world, a very large portion of the country is unpopulated. Despite the large amount of open space in Australia, according to a 2019 report by the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities, 71% of Australians live in major cities, and only 3.5% of Australians live outside of an established community. 1.1% of Australians live in a community with a population that is less than 500. On paper, it means that the majority of Australians have someone in their physical vicinity that they could talk to, even if that was a neighbour or colleague. Living in such a technological age also opens a means of communication and contact to those who wouldn’t have previously had any. Technological advancement can also bring issues of its own, such as people being less confident when talking in person compared to online, or cyberbullying. But high opportunities for social contact in any form doesn’t negate the feeling of loneliness as, even though social isolation and loneliness might be linked, they are two separate issues. It’s very easy to feel lonely amongst a crowd.
A survey looking at the impact of COVID-19, led by Swinburne University, found that, prior to the pandemic in 2018 and 2019, 1 in 4 Australians reported problematic levels of loneliness, most significantly among young adults. Unsurprisingly, this changed to 1 in 2 Australians reporting loneliness during the time of lockdowns and self-isolation. According to a 2021 Australian welfare report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare titled, ‘Social Isolation and Loneliness’, prolonged loneliness can see an increase in mental health issues, physical health issues such as a lack of sleep, and a lesser quality of life. Of course, it doesn’t take a global pandemic to cause loneliness. Loneliness can affect you at any age. It can be as simple as living alone, your friends moving away, not knowing where you fit in, or moving interstate or overseas for study or work purposes.
So, what are some ideas to combat loneliness?
· Get a pet
· Join a gym or sporting community
· Volunteer in your community
· Get out into nature
· Fill the house with noise – music,
background TV or a podcast
· See what events might interest you in
your community
· Get in regular contact with a friend or
family member
· Journal your thoughts
We want to hear from you! What tips for overcoming loneliness do you have that we might have missed? Get in touch with us on Instagram at
@empire.times
EDITORIAL NOTE: This article has been reuploaded and was originally published in 2023.