There’s an epidemic sweeping the world, causing health impacts equal to smoking. Luckily the antidote is free and simple.
In 2023 the World Health Organisation declared loneliness to be a pressing global health threat with social isolation knowing no age or boundaries. In the same year, the US Surgeon General declared social isolation an epidemic and a Harvard study found socially isolated people are 40 per cent more likely to die early.
Even earlier, 2018, the UK appointed a Minister for Loneliness. Japan followed in 2021. In Australia, young men aged 16-24 have overtaken the over 65s as our loneliest demographic. And the current generation of teens are on track to become the loneliest generation in human history.
One in three people experience loneliness, and it has been referred to as the ‘new smoking’ due to its long-term damage to health and mental well-being. Chronically lonely people get sicker, are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease, personality disorders, psychosis, dementia and suicide.
Social isolation sends the body into a state of emergency – pushing up cortisol, adrenaline and blood pressure. Sleep can be affected and executive functioning is impaired.
Individuals who feel isolated might also develop unhealthy habits, such as poor dietary choices, lack of physical activity, and substance misuse.
Societal issue
Loneliness is not a personal failing, it is a societal issue which can be transformed through connection, community and meaningful engagement with others. Research shows that connection offers the solution to the loneliness epidemic.
The National Day of Connection was created to draw attention to this issue and encourage people to reach out and connect. On 17 June 2026, workplaces, schools and communities across the country will host simple activities to bring people together and raise funds to help build community and individual connections through mentoring.
Whether it’s a chat with your neighbour, a smile at a stranger, a coffee with a friend, or an event to bring people together, every connection, large or small will help create thriving communities and move us one step closer to ending the loneliness epidemic.
Connection ideas
- Start with one small act of connection. Send a message to someone in your orbit to check in.
- Share a cup of tea with someone who may be lonely. Smile at someone in your community.
- Start a conversation at work, school or sport. Small moments matter. In fact, they’re often the foundation of deeper relationships over time.
- Prioritise face-to-face connection where possible. Online connection has its place, but genuine in-person interaction can have a powerful impact on wellbeing. Try creating more opportunities for real-world connection. Invite someone for a walk. Join a local class or community group. Say yes to social invitations more often. Work alongside others instead of working alone. Human beings are wired for belonging. Spending time physically present with others helps build trust, empathy and emotional connection.
- Find communities built around shared interests. One of the easiest ways to find your tribe is to connect through common interests or shared values. This could include: sporting clubs, walking groups, book clubs, creative workshops, volunteering, parenting groups, community events, or local fitness classes. Shared activities create natural opportunities for conversation and friendship without pressure.
- Be willing to make the first move. Loneliness often convinces us that reaching out will feel awkward or unwanted. But many people are waiting for someone else to make the first move.
- Try inviting someone for coffee. Suggest a catch-up walk. Start a conversation with a colleague.
- Reconnect with an old friend. Join a new group. Even if it feels uncomfortable at first, courage and vulnerability are often the starting point for meaningful connection.
- Limit surface-level scrolling. Spending hours consuming content online can sometimes leave us feeling more disconnected, not less. Consider replacing some screen time with: Calling someone instead of messaging. Meeting a friend in person. Participating in community activities. Spending time outdoors. Having uninterrupted conversations. Connection is built through presence, not just proximity online.
- Create regular connection rituals. Relationships strengthen through consistency. Simple rituals can help maintain connection: Weekly walks with a friend. Family dinners without phones.
- Monthly catch-ups. Morning coffee with colleagues. Checking in with neighbours. Volunteering regularly. These repeated moments build familiarity, trust and belonging over time.
- Focus on listening, not just talking. One of the most powerful ways to make others feel connected is to truly listen. People don’t always need solutions. Often, they simply want to feel heard, understood, valued, accepted. Genuine listening creates emotional safety and deeper relationships.
- Say yes to community. Communities don’t build themselves, they’re created when people choose to participate. Whether it’s: Attending a local event. Volunteering. Supporting a school or community initiative. Joining a workplace wellbeing activity. Participating in National Day of Connection. Every act of participation strengthens the social fabric around us.
- Become a mentor. One of the most meaningful ways to build connection is by supporting someone else. Raise mentoring allows adults to build a trusted relationship with a young person who may be experiencing challenges such as anxiety, disengagement, low confidence or loneliness.
This National Day of Connection, think about taking one small step toward connection, for yourself, and for someone else. Because connection isn’t a ‘nice to have’, it’s essential.
