How to help someone who is lonely
Loneliness is different for everyone.
The simplest thing we can do is to offer time, friendship and encouragement. Don’t be afraid to be a little bit persistent too – often your friend or neighbour won’t say yes straight away, so make sure you ask a second time!
Time - make a phone call or arrange to visit
Friendship - genuinely listen and just "be" together
Encouragement - find ways to encourage your friend to take positive steps such as joining a social group or activity
Loneliness fact sheets
We've asked some people with expertise to share their wisdom on loneliness - what it is and how to tackle it.
Fact sheet 1: Loneliness - a Minister's perspective (226kb) Fact sheet 2: Loneliness - a mental health perspective (227kb) Fact sheet 3: Loneliness & the elderly - a UnitingCare perspective (228kb) Fact sheet 4: Loneliness - a Lifeline counsellor's perspective (213kb) Fact sheet 5: Loneliness - a psychologist's perspective (226kb)
Digging Deeper
There's lots of research about loneliness and how it affects us. Here are links to articles about understanding loneliness and people sharing their experiences of feeling alone.
Your loneliness can affect others - Loneliness can be Contagious - ABC News
A UK news reporter writes about the aching loneliness that sometimes overwhelms her - Lonely Britain – Daily Mail UK
You can be connected, but still feel alone - Generation Y connects, but oh so lonely - Sydney Morning Herald
A Charles Darwin University psychologist advises ‘How to beat loneliness over Christmas” – How to beat loneliness over Christmas – Charles Darwin University
A scientific view – how loneliness can affect your genes too - Why loneliness is bad for you – Discover Magazine
Is loneliness as bad for your health as smoking? This article says so – Loneliness is as bad for health as smoking or obesity, experts warn – Daily Mail UK
