Feeling disconnected from others is more common than you might think. Whether you've recently moved to a new city, started a demanding job, become absorbed in your studies, or simply found yourself gradually drifting away from friends and family, many people experience periods where social connection feels out of reach. If you've been wondering whether your social isolation is affecting your mental health, or you're looking for practical ways to rebuild meaningful relationships in your life, you're not alone. Understanding the impact of social connection on our wellbeing is the first step toward creating positive change.

Social isolation refers to experiencing a lack of social interaction with friends, family, colleagues, neighbours, community and society. Whilst there are some people that are comfortable with their own company, there are many others who do enjoy spending time with others and may be struggling to adjust.

As humans, we are social beings who thrive on meaningful connections with others. Not having enough social connection can negatively impact our mental health and wellbeing, so we do need to prioritise staying connected with others, even when life gets overwhelming. In our busy modern world - juggling work deadlines, study commitments, family responsibilities, or major life changes - it's easy to let our social connections slip to the bottom of our priority list. However, it's important for us to think about the ways we can increase or enhance our social interactions with others, even when time feels limited and life pulls us in different directions.

We recommend you consult with your GP, who can discuss local support or treatment options with you. They can prepare a Mental Health Care Plan, which will enable you to access treatment services with a psychologist or psychiatrist through Medicare, or a referral to local Community Mental Health Services. Your GP can also provide a physical check-up, if you haven’t had one recently. Your physical health can affect your emotional wellbeing.

If you don’t have one already, you can find a GP in your local area at Beyond Blue.

Another option is online treatment. MindSpot offers free online and telephone delivered treatments which help people manage their symptoms stress, anxiety, low mood and depression.