Australians for Mental Health has welcomed recommendations from a landmark NSW parliamentary report into loneliness. The final report from the Legislative Council’s Standing Committee on Social Issues’ inquiry into the prevalence, causes and impacts of loneliness in NSW has just been handed down.
The report acknowledges the pressing and growing issue of loneliness, and its deep links to mental ill-health, disadvantage and marginalisation.
The recommendations back two which were put forward by Australians for Mental Health as part of its submission to the inquiry, including establishing a whole-of-government strategy to tackle the issue over a five-year period, and amending the Local Government Act to require LGAs to plan for and report on actions to address loneliness and encourage meaningful connections.
Growing health challenge
‘Loneliness is a very serious and growing social and health challenge,’ said Australians for Mental Health Executive Director Chris Gambian said.
‘We know from our own polling last year that one in three Australians don’t feel like they are getting enough social connection. Connection is good for us, and too many Australians aren’t getting enough of it.
‘We are grateful to the NSW government and in particular Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson and her fellow member of the Legislative Council Sarah Kaine for taking the initiative to bring us this report, which provides a path to addressing this very harmful issue.
‘Australians for Mental Health is very pleased to see our own proposals reflected in the report’s recommendations. To be included in the final report for our proposal to amend the Local Government Act to include a clear focus on social connection and loneliness, and requiring councils to report on their performance, is encouraging,’ Chris Gambian said.
‘We know local councils are in a unique position to be able to identify and respond to the needs of their communities. They know what’s best, and should be properly resourced to support community interventions targeting loneliness,’ he said.
‘If we are going to address loneliness, we must focus on the root causes. We can do this looking to create and nurture meaningful social connections.
‘Doing so will be key to tackling loneliness.’
Australians for Mental Health says while this parliamentary report is a great step, there is still a lot of work to be done across the country to improve the nation’s wellbeing.
