For many people, Christmas is one of the happiest and most social times of the year.
But for nearly one in three Australians, it is a period marked by loneliness.
New survey data from the Red Cross has revealed 31 per cent of people often feel lonely around the festive season.
The survey used a representative sample of more than 1,000 people aged over 18 from across Australia in November 2022.
Despite stereotypes about lonesome retirees, it was young people who reported feeling the most isolated.
The survey found among respondents aged 18 to 34, 41 per cent of women and 44 per cent of men frequently felt lonely around Christmas.
Clinical director of the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression, Mike Millard, said the holiday season highlighted a "mismatch" between the social connections people had and the ones they believed they should have.
"Christmas time is a time when so much of the media and so much of what we're hearing in society is, 'It's all about family, friends and relationships,'" Dr Millard said.
"That is actually completely disconnected from so many people's experiences."
This is particularly hard for young people who are often experiencing major life transitions that force them to find new social groups.
"The research is telling us is there's actually significant increases in younger people who are feeling lonely," he said.
"It's a period of time where they're developing their self-identity and have increased levels of anxiety."
Kyle McAuliffe felt lonely for years before deciding to get help.
A few months ago, the 27-year-old emailed Open Support — a charity organisation at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital that works to combat social isolation.
"I just wrote, 'I'm desperately lonely. I need help,'" Mr McAuliffe said.
Open Support gave Mr McAuliffe one-on-one coaching and helped him connect to local groups through which he could find others who shared his passion for playing the ukulele and recording music.
"I'm very busy now … and it's because of Open Support that I'm allowed to go out and meet all these people," Mr McAuliffe said.
"They've really helped me with my loneliness."
Chair of Ending loneliness together Michelle Lim said deciding to take the first steps to feel more connected to others was essential for people who might be experiencing chronic loneliness.
Dr Lim said the first step could be as simple as initiating small talk with an acquaintance.
"It might feel a little bit scary at times, but those little steps actually make a difference," Dr Lim said.
"They allow us to upskill, get more confidence … and turn those conversations into much more meaningful relationships over time."
Chronic loneliness has long-term health impacts that harm both individuals and the broader health system, according to Dr Lim.
"There's robust evidence now to say that loneliness is particularly bad for health … it increases our likelihood of an earlier death, of having physical health problems like cardiometabolic disease, or mental health problems like depression and social anxiety," she said.
"Loneliness costs the Australian economy around $2.7 billion annually … yet loneliness itself is not necessarily seen as a feasible target [to address] within our communities or health system."
If you or anyone you know needs help:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
- Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
- Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
- Headspace on 1800 650 890
- ReachOut at au.reachout.com
- MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
- Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) on 1800 008 774
- Head to Health at headtohealth.gov.au
