Loneliness and isolation

Make the most of your current relationships. Connecting takes time and energy, but even small interactions can make a difference.

Engaging with people who uplift you through conversations, shared activities or simply being together can help manage feelings of loneliness.

Reaching out might seem hard but often other people are just as keen to get together as you might be.

Stay in touch with whānau members and friends by:

• inviting them to visit you
• asking them to go with you to an event or activity
• visiting a local park together
• phone or video call them regularly.

Consider sharing your skills and time with people in your community. By helping others, you are doing things that give you a feeling of purpose. You could:

• volunteer at a local community event
• join a community clean-up day
• offer to help older neighbours with small jobs such as taking out their wheelie bins on rubbish days.

By contributing to the wellbeing of your wider community you are also contributing to your own. Your local library can help you to find local community groups in your area.

You could also consider volunteering for organisations such as Age Concern, or in local schools or kindergartens.

Get involved — Age Concern (external link)

Your computer or other device such as a tablet or smart phone is a great way to easily keep in touch with whānau and friends.

If you do not have the skills to use a computer or your other device, you could take a course to help you learn. Libraries and community centres often hold training courses suitable for older people.

There are many other activities you can get involved in. You can find activities on the internet or ask a friend or whānau member to search for you. 

We all find it difficult to go along to something new. You could go with a friend or phone first so the people there are expecting you. 

Groups you can connect with (internal link)

If you are over 65, you may be able to use the Age Concern visiting service. This matches volunteers with lonely or socially isolated older people. The volunteer will visit you for about an hour each week to enjoy conversation and shared interests and activities.

Visiting service — Age Concern (external link)

Embracing our cultural uniqueness encourages a sense of connection and acceptance. Understanding your whakapapa — who you are, where you come from and your connection to the world, can provide a strong sense of identity and connection.

There are all sorts of ways of expressing your culture and building a sense of connection:

• spend time with your whanau — have conversations and learn about your cultural background
• embrace language — speaking your native language can deepen your connection to your cultural roots and broaden connections in your community
• experiment with traditional recipes from your culture and invite someone to share the food with you
• spend time with like-minded people, with similar interests, that align with your values.

Embracing your identity and community — Depression.org.nz (external link)

Communicating with people online through social media can be a great way to build community.

But social media can sometimes make people feel lonely when it looks like everyone else has many friends and is having fun. Remember that things are not always what they seem from the outside and what others post on social media is only what they want people to see. Try not to compare yourself to others.

Pets can be great companions. Having a pet can help provide structure to your day and encourage you to get outside. Pets are also shown to help reduce stress levels. 

If you cannot have your own pet, you may be able to spend time with a pet owned by a friend or whānau member.