As Australia moves into our ‘new normal’, APM’s Health & Wellbeing team will provide regular insights and advice to help you address some of the most pertinent issues arising.
Our aim is to help you and your organisation respond to and evolve with the situation.
Sources: COVID isolation and loneliness and Quarter of Brits feel lonely amid coronavirus lockdown, prompting mental health fears.
What does this mean?
The ‘loneliness epidemic’ has been worrying healthcare leaders for many years.
There is robust evidence that social isolation and loneliness significantly increase risk for premature mortality, and the magnitude of the risk exceeds that of many leading health indicators,’
– Julieanne Holt-Lunstad (125th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, August 2017)The Australian Psychological Society reported in 2018 that, at any one time, one quarter of Australians are experiencing loneliness.
The impact of COVID-19
While social isolation does not, in and of itself, automatically result in loneliness, we know that it does have some impact. Reports of loneliness amongst Australians – and others – appear to be dramatically increasing as we maintain isolation and social distancing measures as a result of COVID-19.What can leaders do?
- Stay connected. Keep in frequent touch with your teams and colleagues, through the various remote communication tools we have.
- Promote and share the resources available to you – your EAP program, free online resources (some helpful links are below), and your local GP and health services.
- Ask the question, 'are you ok?', and take time to listen.
Where to go
- ABC Radio National – Tackling loneliness at work
- Australian Psychological Society – Loneliness and social isolation in the time of COVID-19
- RUOK? – Staying connected in challenging times
- The campaign to end loneliness