All the lonely people – where do they all come from?

Friday 4 October
MEDIA RELEASE

All the lonely people – where do they all come from?

Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) is next week, and the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) is encouraging New Zealanders to take this opportunity to CONNECT with the people in their lives who may be feeling lonely and isolated.

CONNECT, one of the Five Ways to Wellbeing, is the official theme for MHAW 2013.

“Connecting with others is the most powerful tool we have for feeling happy and mentally well,” says Hugh Norriss, Director of Policy & Development at the MHF.

“The recent Wellbeing Index showed that only 30% of Kiwis are connecting socially with others more than once a week. Many people are inadvertently isolating themselves because they have so many competing demands on their time, but the effects of loneliness on both physical and mental health are too serious to ignore.”

isolation not only contributes to depression, but can often make the experience of having depression more severe, and hinder recovery.

Brain scientists know that having strong social networks improves brain health – people who are connected with others perform better on memory and cognition tests. They are also likely to be less stressed, have stronger immune systems and better quality of sleep.

“Connecting is not only good for your wellbeing, but it provides a boost to the people you’re connecting with, too” says Hugh. “It’s a really generous way of taking care of yourself!”

Some people find the thought of socialising with strangers frightening, but Hugh says that connecting doesn’t just mean organising large parties or joining a sports club.

“Smiling at shop assistants, patting a cat, or thanking your bus driver are all little things that we could all do, and they provide a meaningful boost to our wellbeing,” he says.

Organisations around the country are busily organising MHAW celebrations. From a mass dog walk in Southland to a hui in Northland, Kiwis from all walks of life are connecting with the MHAW message.
“Feeling close to, and valued by other people is a fundamental human need,” says Hugh. “It seems so obvious, but maybe it’s one of those common-sense things that we all need to remind ourselves to do more frequently.

“Start small, maybe by making one non-business phone call a day. You’ll notice the difference in your mood very quickly!”

Check out the MHF website for tips and ideas on how to connect with the people in your life and a comprehensive list of MHAW activities nationwide.

You can also CONNECT with the Mental Health Foundation on Facebook. Throughout MHAW we’ll be sharing tips on connecting, and awarding prizes for the best CONNECT ideas.  Visit the official MHAW website, www.mentalhealth.org.nz/mhaw for more information.

ENDS

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