Eight out of 10 Australians believe the world is becoming a lonelier place, according to a new Lifeline survey of more than 3000 people.
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When asked if social media was making people feel more lonely 31.46 per cent said yes while 38.96 weren’t sure, the remainder said no.
CEO Pete Shmigel said as suicide deaths were at a 10-year-high more emphasis needs to be put on “caring real-world relationships”.
“For a society that is more technologically connected than we have ever been, these results suggest we’re overlooking good old-fashioned care and compassion when it comes to our mental health and well being,” he said.
Of the 60 per cent of respondents that said they ‘often feel lonely’, most lived with a partner and/or children.
Mr Shmigel said the findings were in line with Lifeline data which showed many people feel unable or unwilling to seek help from loved ones in their own homes.
These results suggest we’re overlooking good old-fashioned care and compassion.
- Pete Shmigel
“We spend an average of 46 hours of our weekly downtime looking at our TVs and digital devices, this survey sought to better understand whether digital relationships are positive substitutes for direct relationships with live humans,” he said.
“While the findings from this survey are inconclusive, they perhaps show that technology itself is neutral and we must place a greater focus on how we can harness the digital world for the good of our emotional world.”
People ring Lifeline in crisis – from people contemplating suicide, to grief and loss, domestic violence and loneliness.
Erin Tierney from Albion Park Rail has been working as a phone counselor with Lifeline for three years and can’t see herself leaving anytime soon.
Shifts are only four hours long so staff aren’t overwhelmed by helping others with problems, but the psychology graduate said she loves her role because she’s “making a difference”.
“You’re a listening ear and you’re providing a space whereby a person can talk about what’s affecting them, how it feels for them,” Miss Tierney said.
“The main thing is we sit and we listen to them … and it’s so vitally important when they often don’t have any supports in their life.
“I wanted to give something back to the community and be involved with something that means a lot to me,”
Lifeline, 13 11 14