Even before Covid-19 arrived, a quarter of us were feeling lonelier than most. Now the pandemic is cutting us off from our communities, our workplaces and each other. Loneliness is predicted to be the next public health epidemic of the 21st century. We’re interacting online more than ever, but our sense of isolation is growing. On the flipside, some now crave solitude, desperate to escape the noise of overcrowded households , bad news and social media chatter. So will this pandemic force us to deal with loneliness, on a personal and political level? What sort of politics could make us feel more connected? Does technology bring us together or keep us apart? Are we losing our ability to have an inclusive democracy? And how do we regain a sense of community during an epidemic which demands physical distancing?
Even before Covid-19 arrived, a quarter of us were feeling lonelier than most. Now the pandemic is cutting us off from our communities, our workplaces and each other.
Loneliness is predicted to be the next public health epidemic of the 21st century. We’re interacting online more than ever, but our sense of isolation is growing. On the flipside, some now crave solitude, desperate to escape the noise of overcrowded households, bad news and social media chatter.
So will this pandemic force us to deal with loneliness, on a personal and political level?
What sort of politics could make us feel more connected? Does technology bring us together or keep us apart? Are we losing our ability to have an inclusive democracy? And how do we regain a sense of community during an epidemic which demands physical distancing?
Joining me on the panel:
Gus Worland, Men's mental health advocate
Sarah Wilson, Author and TV Presenter
Hugh Mackay, Psychologist and author
Michelle Lim, Scientific Chair, Ending Loneliness Together
Rosemary Kayess, Associate Director Disability Innovation Institute UNSW
Please submit a question via our website by 9am Monday for the chance to ask the panel.
Each week I'll be selecting my top question to highlight in the newsletter, along with a classic Q+A moment.
Keep scrolling to watch Monday's toughest question asked by Julia Mickler, whose husband Andreas is currently stranded in Germany and my pick for the Q+A classic moment - the unforgettable Meyne Wyatt! 👇
Watch Q+A Monday 9.35pm on ABC TV, streamed live 9.35pm AEST on ABC iview or on our website.
Looking forward to hearing your questions.
Hamish Macdonald
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| Get to know the panellists |
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| Chronic loneliness is on the rise in Australia, but exact figures can be hard to obtain - people are often reticent to name their loneliness due to stigma, says Dr Michelle Lim. | | LEARN MORE |
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| In his documentary series Man Up, Gus Worland embarked on a mission to break the silence around male suicide and to challenge our ideas about what it means to be an Aussie man. | | LEARN MORE |
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| Studies show that around 25 per cent of Australians feel lonely for three or more days in a week. "And that was long before talks of pandemics, shutdowns, or social isolation," says Dr Hugh Mackay. | | LEARN MORE |
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| Julia's husband was allowed to leave Australia on compassionate grounds in July to see his dying father in Germany, but now cannot return home. She asks why there isn't a system in place to ensure he can return to his family? | | WATCH NOW | |
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| Australians are living in COVID-induced isolation. Matt Preston, Craig Foster, Julie McCrossin, John Anderson and Christine Morgan answer your questions about surviving home schooling the kids, working from home and living on top of each other. | | WATCH NOW | |
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| Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack came under fire during Monday night's episode of Q+A after linking Black Lives Matter protests to Victoria's coronavirus outbreak, but Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid said he was not aware of any evidence linking the protest to Victoria's second wave. | | WATCH NOW | |
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| Meyne Wyatt performs a monologue from his play, City of Gold, live on Q+A. | | WATCH NOW | |
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