The Little Blue Book

Right now, many of us through this period of isolation and dislocation from the workplace will be enjoying the relative solitude of being able to work without the stream of distraction that comes from most workplaces. Provided the right systems are in place for connecting with colleagues and friends, for having downtime, for working to a routine (and balancing work and life), this time of working from home can be productive and beneficial for both the workplace and the individual. But it won’t suit all. Some will struggle to adjust. Workplaces and colleagues will need to be alert to signs of emotional and psychological distress, or other negative reactions to isolation, among friends and co-workers working remotely. For some it won’t be solitude, but loneliness. We can help each other through this. Because solitude, when combined with loneliness, is dangerous to both psychological health and to physical health and wellbeing. 2 (2) Report: The Lonely Society; Griffin J.; Mental Health Foundation (2010) www.mentalhealth.org.uk • 24.4% of Australian households are one-person households (ABS figures, 2016) • 15.8% of Australian households are single parent households (of these, 81.8% are female single parents and 18.2% being male single parents) • One-in-two Australians (51%) report they feel lonely for at least 1 day each week • One-in-ten Australians (9.5%,) aged 15-plus report lacking social support and around one-in-four report they are “currently experiencing” an episode of loneliness • Among adults aged 25–44, more men living alone experienced loneliness (39%) than women living alone (12%). (The difference identified as being due to women “tending to have more social support than men”.) • Around one-in-eight Australian young people (12-25 years) report a “very high intensity of loneliness”, having an average wellbeing “well below the normal range” (and one-in-four will experience mental illness) • However, around found 60% of pet owners feel more socially connected as a direct result of owning a pet, and two-thirds (66%) of dog and cat owners reported ‘companionship’ as a reason for owning a pet. If you, or someone close to you, is troubled by feelings of loneliness, call your GP, health professional or helpline. 1 LONELINESS IN AUSTRALIA: SOME STATISTICS 1 To reach out, Call: Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 beyondblue.org.au Lifeline 13 11 14 lifeline.org.au ADA Australia ‘A friendly ear’ 1800 232 287 (1) LONELINESS and SOCIAL ISOLATION; Australian Institute of Health and Welfare www.aihw.gov.au 35 ADA Australia PostScript Section 1 Section 3 Section 2