The Problem

In the last several decades, Australians have witnessed increases in social isolation, particularly among the most vulnerable in our culture. Studies have linked isolation to a variety of factors that threaten the foundation of our communities.

•  Lower levels of educational and economic achievement, shorter life expectancies, and rising disease rates occur among the most isolated groups.

•  Depression and social disengagement are tightly linked. In fact, from 1950 to 1995 the suicide rate among adolescents more than quadrupled.

•  Child abuse and neglect are more prevalent in families lacking support networks, the communities of care that can sustain even single-parent homes with economic hardships.

In the absence of a thriving community, we are becoming more and more brittle—with the greatest impact falling to youth, the elderly and the indigenous community.

Yet our response seems to perpetuate the problem: we are easily lulled into self-care activities that ironically promote more isolation. Mental health professionals have only scratched the surface. While psychotherapy and psychotropic medications are somewhat successful in reducing symptoms of mental illness, they do not cure the underlying despair that accompanies isolation. It's no wonder. Isolation is not a disease: it is a serious social problem, hitting us at our very core where we are wired for community. So, as our social bonds weaken, we risk losing the essential ties that keep us resilient in the face of life's challenges.

To read about our vision of a solution, click here.