Mind Australia and Monash University are part of a group of organisations researching strategies for how to reduce loneliness and social isolation for people who experience chronic disease.
The Connect for Better Health project involves eight separate studies that will address gaps in understanding the links between loneliness, social isolation and chronic disease. It will also identify evidence-based strategies for overcoming these links in collaboration with people who experience loneliness/social isolation and chronic disease.
Mind Research and Evaluation Manager Dr Laura Hayes says the project will help develop a map that shows the most pressing areas of need, a registry of support services and potential target markets for service planners.
“Loneliness is a serious public health issue that effects almost one-in-three Australians, and we know that loneliness is also linked to poorer health. Conversely, we also know that people living with a chronic disease are more likely to be lonely or socially isolated,” Dr Hayes said.
“In completing this research project, we aim to produce a holistic, priority setting framework that provides insights about where government should invest, with what kind of interventions, and whom to target these interventions to so we can reduce the impacts of loneliness and social isolation for all Australians.”
Mind’s knowledge in engaging with lived experience and lived expertise will be central to The Connect for Better Health Project. Mind service users will also have opportunities to lend their lived experience to the research.