You can have a partner, friends, a family and a busy calendar – and still feel like nobody really knows you. So why can a full life sometimes feel so lonely? In the second episode of Are We Good?, journalist Marina Pliatsikas explores the gap between being surrounded by people and feeling connected. Through conversations about friendship, everyday routines and the places we come together, we discover why loneliness isn’t always visible – and why finding our way back to connection takes more than simply making more plans. Clinical psychologist Michelle Lim explains the difference between loneliness and social isolation, why persistent loneliness deserves our attention, and why there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Mental health advocate Milly Rose Bannister reflects on the pressures facing young Australians, the limits of the “catch-up generation”, and how sharing ordinary moments can help us feel part of each other’s lives. Journalist Ros Thomas shares what she learnt exploring loneliness around the world, from community approaches to connection to the difference a simple good morning can make. Human connection specialist Simone Heng explores how loneliness can affect the way we read other people, while social psychologist Hugh Mackay offers a reminder to make connection part of the everyday. Are We Good? is a six-part podcast series from Relationships Australia NSW. Follow us wherever you get your podcasts. Our guests With thanks to the guests featured in this episode: Michelle Lim – Clinical psychologist, loneliness researcher and CEO of Ending Loneliness TogetherMilly Rose Bannister – Mental health advocate and founder and CEO of ALLKNDRos Thomas – Journalist and writer exploring loneliness and social connectionSimone Heng – Human connection specialist and author of Let’s Talk About LonelinessHugh Mackay – Social psychologist, author and researcherFollow Are We Good? InstagramFacebookLinkedInYouTube Support and resources If anything in this podcast brings up difficult feelings or concerns about your relationships, support is available. Relationships Australia NSW offers counselling for individuals, couples and families across NSW. Call 1300 364 277 or visit our website to enquire or book. RANSW is not a crisis service.Lifeline: Call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14 for crisis support, available 24/7 across Australia.Beyond Blue: Call 1300 22 4636 or access online counselling for mental health support, available 24/7 across Australia.13YARN: Call 13 92 76 for free, confidential, culturally safe crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, available 24/7.1800RESPECT: Call 1800 737 732 for support with domestic, family or sexual violence, available 24/7 across Australia.If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000. Research and further reading Relationships Australia NSW – Connection Is Protection Our latest Australian research, conducted with YouGov, explores how relationships affect our mental health and wellbeing, the challenges people face staying connected, and why relationship skills matter. Connection Is Protection Ending Loneliness Together – Understanding loneliness Resources to help us understand loneliness, talk about it and support connection, recognising that people’s needs and circumstances differ. Ending Loneliness Together resources World Health Organization – Commission on Social Connection The WHO’s landmark report examines the impacts of loneliness and social isolation on health and wellbeing, and calls for action to make social connection a global public health priority. From loneliness to social connection: charting a path to healthier societies The “lonely brain” – How loneliness shapes our perceptions Research by John T. Cacioppo and colleagues explores how loneliness can affect the brain and the way we interpret social situations. Feeling lonely can make us more alert to perceived social threats, which may make it harder to trust others and reconnect – even when we want connection. Toward a neurology of loneliness Community connection and healthcare – The Frome study A study in Frome, England, examined an approach combining personalised care planning, social prescribing and community development. It found an association with fewer unplanned hospital admissions, offering insights into how health services and communities can work together. Reducing emergency hospital admissions: an enhanced model of primary care and compassionate communities ALLKND – Cause Club Featured in this episode, Cause Club brings young people together through social volunteering, creating opportunities to connect while doing something meaningful for others. Find out about ALLKND and Cause Club Credits Hosted by Marina PliatsikasProduced by Emily Dufton
