Why being alone is bad for your health

A NEW study shows being alone really is bad for your health: it increases your risk of dying early and can be as damaging as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

depression teen girl cried lonely for Angela Mollard column

SOCIAL experts are urging people to reconnect with their community after a new SA Health study revealed lonely people are at greater risk of dying early.

The report, Protect, Prevent, Improve, warns feeling isolated can be just as damaging to a person’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes or drinking six standard alcoholic drinks a day.

The study, which involved 300,000 people, looked into factors affecting the population’s health, including diet, exercise, infectious diseases, domestic squalor, drugs, food security and lifestyle.

It identified loneliness and isolation as a major health issue for SA in the coming century.

SA ageing population — 16.7 per cent are aged over 65 — is contributing to the issue, as is the fact that nearly one in four houses only have one occupant.

The report found volunteering may play a major role in combating loneliness.

Volunteering SA chief executive officer Evelyn O’Loughlin encouraged people to give it a go.

“Volunteering has meant that (people) can retrain and get new skills ... and have fun and really find a commonality of purpose, which gives them a sense of meaning and aids wellbeing,” she said.

Ms O’Loughlin said research had shown volunteering helps combat isolation, lower heart rates and blood pressure, promotes weight control, helps people sleep better and gives them higher energy levels.

Charles Sturt Mayor Angela Keneally said her council had introduced a range of new initiatives in the past 12 months to combat social isolation.

“We recognise that in today’s society people can feel isolated and alone and we are committed to supporting our residents to remain connected and engaged with their community,” Ms Keneally said.

New programs include a community outreach service, helping older people shop and supporting elderly people to keep their pets at home.

The council also offers programs for over-50s at its community centres throughout the district.