Why Connection Matters More Than Ever
In today’s fast-paced, hyper-connected world, it’s striking how many people feel profoundly disconnected. Loneliness is no longer seen as a private struggle — it’s a recognised public health concern. Research shows that lacking strong social ties carries health risks equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day (Holt-Lunstad, 2022). In New South Wales alone, nearly 40% of residents report some level of loneliness, and one in four experience persistent loneliness (NSW Parliament Standing Committee on Social Issues, 2025).
The message is clear: connection is a health priority.
The Hidden Cost of Disconnection
For decades, health promotion has focused on diet, exercise, and sleep. Yet growing evidence from Harvard, the World Health Organization (WHO), and NSW’s recent parliamentary inquiry shows that social connection is just as critical (Harvard Study of Adult Development, 2023; WHO, 2023; NSW Parliament, 2025).
People with strong social networks enjoy:
- Better immune function
- Reduced risk of depression and anxiety
- Lower incidence of chronic disease
- Longer life expectancy
By contrast, chronic loneliness is linked with:
- Cognitive decline
- Heart disease
- Substance misuse
- Higher mortality rates
And loneliness doesn’t discriminate. It affects older adults, young people, carers, people with disability or illness, and those in transition out of the workforce. Increasingly, it’s becoming the norm rather than the exception.
What the NSW Evidence Shows
The NSW Parliament’s Report No. 65: Loneliness in New South Wales (2025) highlighted several key findings:
- Prevalence: 40% of residents experience loneliness to some degree; 24.5% experience persistent loneliness.
- High-risk groups: Young people, older adults, carers, people with disability or chronic illness, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ people, and those in rural/remote areas.
- Environment matters: Socioeconomic disadvantage, lack of green spaces, poor public transport, and limited “third places” (like libraries and community centres) increase loneliness.
- Mental health link: People with mental health challenges are almost twice as likely to experience ongoing lonelinesss
This confirms loneliness is more than individual circumstance — it’s shaped by equity, environment, and systemic barriers.
Connection as Prevention
At Create Today, we believe wellbeing should be proactive. That means addressing risks early and creating supportive environments where people can thrive. Social connection acts as a protective factor, improving resilience and supporting recovery
That’s why we created My Social Support Network (MSSN) — a service built around the principle that connection heals. We help older adults and individuals experiencing isolation due to age, injury, illness, or disability by:
- Running structured social connection programs
- Facilitating online communities and gentle group activities
- Offering flexible, individualised support that can be accessed from home
We also reduce barriers like digital literacy, mobility, and energy levels, helping people rebuild confidence, routines, and a sense of belonging.
From Awareness to Action
The evidence is undeniable: social health must be part of health policy and practice.
- For health professionals: Screen for social isolation as routinely as you measure blood pressure.
- For community leaders: Invest in inclusive, ongoing initiatives — not just events, but sustained engagement supported by good infrastructure.
- For families and caregivers: Remember that showing up, listening, and connecting can be as healing as clinical care.
Create Today - MSSN: A Model for Connection-Led Support
My Social Support Network (MSSN) is more than a service — it’s a movement. By making social connection central to wellbeing, we help people move from surviving to truly thriving. We work with funders, insurers, health services, and community organisations that share this vision.
The question we must ask is not “What’s wrong with them?” but “What’s missing around them?” Often, the answer is simple: connection.
When we prioritise social health, we create conditions where individuals and communities can flourish.
References
- Cacioppo, J. T., & Cacioppo, S. (2018). The growing problem of loneliness. The Lancet, 391(10119), 426.
- Holt-Lunstad, J. (2022). Social connection as a public health issue: The evidence and a systemic framework for prioritizing the “social” in social determinants of health. Annual Review of Public Health, 43, 193–213.
- Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. (2010). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: A meta-analytic review. PLoS Medicine, 7(7), e1000316.
- NSW Parliament Standing Committee on Social Issues. (2025, August). The prevalence, causes and impacts of loneliness in New South Wales: Report No. 65.
