Loneliness and mental health

Loneliness isn't just about being alone. You can enjoy solitude, and you can feel lonely in a crowd. There’s nothing shameful about feelings of loneliness, in fact it's very common across the world.

Occasional loneliness is normal, but if you feel persistently lonely it can have an impact on your mental health. Learn about loneliness, when it becomes a bigger issue, how to connect with others, and how communities and public organisations can help everyone feel they belong.

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What is loneliness?

The simplest definition of loneliness is when there’s a gap between wanting to connect with people and being able to connect with people. It’s not about how many relationships you have, but more about the quality of those relationships, and how you feel about them.

Being isolated isn’t the only reason for loneliness, but it can be a big part of it. People in rural communities might feel more isolated than those in cities. During the pandemic, many of us felt lonelier.

While people in rural and remote areas may be more likely to experience loneliness, some First Nations Peoples living in cities and urban settings can also feel deeply isolated – especially when they are off-country, far from family and kin, or disconnected from their home country.

Loneliness is very closely tied to disconnection. If you feel like those around you see you differently because of your gender, age, cultural background or disability, it can make you feel excluded and like you don’t belong.

I was renting a place on my own, and I felt incredibly isolated and lonely … [Now], all I have to do is take a walk down the road here and I'll bump into somebody and have a chat with them for five or 10 minutes … It's all about mindset. And I very much believe in blooming where you're planted.”

- Sandi

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You are not alone in feeling lonely - many people living in  Australia are.

Illustration of sad man sitting on floor, hugging a pillow for comfort

How does loneliness affect mental and physical health?

Occasional loneliness is normal, but long-term loneliness can affect mental health. Long-term loneliness has been linked to depression, anxiety, and physical issues like chronic pain. It can also increase stress hormones, affecting sleep and immunity.

For First Nations Peoples, even brief periods of loneliness can disrupt the deep relational and cultural ties that are central to wellbeing. Short-term loneliness affects mental, emotional and social wellbeing and is often intensified by unique historical and systemic factors. This needs culturally grounded approaches to restore community, kin, and cultural connections. Learn more about country, culture and spirituality -->

Sometimes people cope with loneliness through unhealthy habits like substance misuse, gaming, overeating, or exercising or working too hard. Not everyone who feels lonely will do these things, but it’s common and understandable if loneliness is proving hard to overcome.

What causes loneliness?

You don’t have to have a reason for being lonely, and usually there’s more than one thing contributing to a sense of disconnection from others. It can help to understand what life events or other pressures might contribute to a feeling of loneliness. Some common causes of loneliness are:

Big life changes like moving to a new place or starting at a new job or school.
Disconnection from country, culture and spirituality for First Nations Peoples.
Going through a breakup, or a long-term friendship ending.
Grieving the death of a family member or friend.
Living with a mental health condition.
Looking for a romantic relationship.
Becoming a parent.
Displacement, racism and systemic barriers affecting First Nations Peoples.
Being excluded from a group or wider society because of culture or language, racial discrimination, disability, gender, or sexual orientation.
Not being able to join in activities because of financial hardship or caring for someone else, or other barriers you can’t control.
Feeling a lack of confidence in knowing how to connect with new people.
Not trusting relationships and finding it hard to open up to people.

What is belonging?

Social connection and belonging can improve loneliness

A sense of belonging means feeling accepted and valued by a group, which makes us feel secure, seen and heard.

Belonging is something that is relevant to all the different places we live in, like school, work, on a sports team, in a religious community, or in a country and culture.
Belonging is more than just knowing people. Belonging is about getting and giving acceptance, attention, and support.

Our need for belonging is common to all human beings and it includes feeling accepted for who we are: our cultural identity, ability, gender, LGBTIQ+ identity, or racial background.

Feelings of loneliness for First Nations Peoples can be complicated by intergenerational trauma along with persistent discrimination. Recognising and learning from the wisdom and strengths in First Nations' connections to country and culture can foster a deeper sense of belonging and ease loneliness and disconnection.

For more information, visit First Nations communities social and emotional wellbeing.

You’re not alone if you’re feeling lonely

Even in our digitally connected world, people living in Australia are feeling more isolated and disconnected.

Loneliness in Australia in 2025

According to the latest State of the Nation Report from Ending Loneliness Australia:

Almost 1 in 3 people feel lonely, and people in rural areas are more likely to feel lonely.
1 in 6 people are experiencing severe loneliness (reporting that they often or always feel lonely).
15-24-year-olds are feeling lonelier than any other age group.

How to cope with loneliness

Some things to remember

Feeling lonely can be tough, but social connection and belonging are possible for everyone.
Connecting with others is a skill you can learn and practice.
Making meaningful connections takes time.
Feeling lonely doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you.
Understand that relationships change, and everyone goes through change.
Recognise your moods and give yourself a break when you need it.
Focus on things you love and enjoy and give yourself time to enjoy them.
Practice self-care and reflect on how you're feeling with Beyond Blue PACE.
Our free app makes it easier to build and track an action plan that supports healthy routines and habits.

How do you overcome loneliness?

The best place to start is by being comfortable in your own company – enjoy your hobbies, do things you like to do, get out into nature if that’s your thing.
Start out small, saying hi to a neighbour or shopkeeper.
When you're ready, reach out to friends or family, join a club, or volunteer.
Physical exercise is a great way to cope with loneliness, if that’s possible for you. It boosts your mood and can be a social activity too.
Engaging in activities you enjoy can help you meet new people that like the same things as you and build connections.
It might take a few goes to get it feeling right so don't get upset if your first attempt at connection isn't what you thought it would be. Stick at it, it takes practice.