Hannah Felsbourg
20 December 2024
Churches are uniquely positioned to combat youth loneliness through their regular gatherings and ability to foster meaningful connections, according to a new report.
The report by policy and advocacy organisation Publica highlights the significant health and societal risks of loneliness. They compare it to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Publica is calling for solutions including friendship courses, social prescribing, and greater involvement from churches to address the issue.
Executive director Professor Patrick Parkinson said churches could address loneliness effectively because of their reach and role in fostering community.
He said churches needed to emphasise inclusivity and ensure non-believers felt welcome at events.
“We have more than 10,000 churches in communities across Australia, preaching a message of meaning and hope, and fostering community and connection,” he said.
“There’s this misconception that you need to be a believing Christian to attend. That’s not the case with the vast majority of churches.”
Read more: If loneliness is the next pandemic, what is the cure?
Professor Parkinson said the loneliness epidemic was now most prevalent among young Australians aged 18–25.
“This is a stage of life where we are meant to be the most social, yet research in Australia, the UK and the US consistently shows that young adults are the loneliest age group of all – more than the elderly,” said Professor Parkinson.
The report identified societal changes such as technology use, remote work, and delayed life milestones as key contributors to loneliness among young adults.
These factors, along with a decline in social group participation, economic challenges, and the impact of online learning, eroded traditional social connections.
This disruption fostered emotional and social loneliness, significantly harming both mental and physical health.
Publica recommended rebuilding community groups, teaching friendship skills, and using social prescribing to connect people with local activities.
Friendship courses like the Friendship Lab, set to launch in February 2025, were highlighted as a practical solution.
These courses aimed to help young people overcome social anxiety and develop essential relational skills.
Read more: Church targets loneliness with lessons in lasting friendship
Friendship Lab founder Sheridan Voysey said the program was inspired by a question he once faced: “Who can you call at 2am when everything has gone wrong?”
“I remember my pen hovering over the workbook because I didn’t know whose name to write down,” Mr Voysey said.
He said adults often struggled to make and maintain friendships due to busyness, mobility, and lack of knowledge on how to build meaningful connections.
Mr Voysey said the Friendship Lab pilot, involving participants from various backgrounds, succeeded in repairing friendships and boosting well-being.
The Friendship Lab course will offer on-demand lessons and live group sessions, with small group options for churches and community groups.
Mr Voysey hoped the program would empower people to develop deep and lasting friendships, ultimately improving their well-being and sense of belonging.
Better friendships were associated with lower rates of anxiety and depression and higher levels of happiness, according to Publica’s report.
For more information or to access resources, visit publica.org.au and friendshiplab.org. Publica’s full report can be found here.
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