Neurodiverse Geelong woman raises alarm on epidemic of loneliness

A neurodiverse Clifton Springs woman has shared how the pandemic plunged her into unmanageable loneliness, and how she’s now tackling feelings of isolation.

Geelong-based Grace Jenner struggled to regain her social circles post-Covid but has found support at Cloverdale Community Centre. Picture: Alan Barber

Loneliness exacerbated by the Covid pandemic continues to hit hard, with people getting back to grassroots volunteering in an attempt to reconnect with the community.

Clifton Springs 30-year-old Grace Jenner, who has been diagnosed with high-functioning Asperger’s syndrome, said for many reconnecting since Covid lockdowns had been a long silent struggle.

Ms Jenner said she had always been on the outer with her peer groups, but had finally begun to turn that around before Covid hit, regularly seeing friends for dinner, working part-time at Big W, and going to the gym.

But, she said, all that changed in 2020.

“All my social outings (stopped),” she said.

“I was the only staff member at the front end of the store waiting for many hours alone.”

With her parents running an essential small business, she was often alone at home, too.

“This was a very challenging time for me,” she said.

The “extremely lonely” period left Ms Jenner’s mental health spiralling as she grappled with emotional eating and loneliness.

And it didn’t stop when the lockdowns ended.

“I struggled to reconnect,” she said.

In 2021 she was denied NDIS support as a high-functioning neurodivergent, but was unable to manage the mental toll of the loneliness.

Mr Jenner was “pretty much in tears” when she approached Cloverdale Community Centre chief executive Liz Bonner seeking assistance.

Clifton Springs resident Grace Jenner and Cloverdale Community Centre chief executive Liz Bonner. Picture: Alan Barber

Ms Jenner decided to volunteer at Corio’s Cloverdale Community Centre, which provides a variety of programs and support, and is one of many Neighbourhood Houses Victoria (NHV).

“I haven’t looked back since,” she said.

NHV chief executive Keir Paterson said to tackle the issue of isolation NHV had 133 neighbourhood houses now involved in “social prescribing” programs.

“We’ve seen social prescribing, where a health professional refers someone experiencing social isolation to a neighbourhood house to become connected to community, really explode across the state,” he said.

“Many people got used to having food and prescriptions delivered, lost daily connection to neighbours and friends, and haven’t rebuilt their confidence to re-engage with the world.

“It is like they went into lockdown and never came out.”

Mr Paterson said Ms Jenner’s story was one of many reflective of a larger social recession, as people have struggled to reconnect with society since Covid.

“We also focus on priority groups who more commonly experience social isolation, like unpaid carers, people living with disabilities or people with language or digital connection issues, which can also be very isolating,” he said.

In 2022, almost one in seven (15 per cent) of Australians were experiencing social isolation, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Ms Bonner said she had recommended the centre to Ms Jenner because it provided specific support and programs with the aim of decreasing social isolation.

“You don’t need a reason to come, a cuppa and chat may be as simple as a first visit needs to be,” she said.

“We just want positive participation in community, to see people connected.”

Originally published as Neurodiverse Geelong woman raises alarm on epidemic of loneliness