Mentally Healthy Futures Project submission to the Standing Committee on Social Issues: Inquiry into the prevalence, causes and impacts of loneliness in New South Wales

Abstract

This report includes a policy submission from members of the Mentally Healthy Futures Project (The Matilda Centre, University of Sydney) to the Standing Committee on Social Issues: Inquiry into the prevalence, causes and impacts of loneliness in New South Wales. The submission highlights key recommendations including: 1) The NSW government should prioritise social connection as a policy focus, expanding beyond just addressing loneliness and social isolation, 2) NSW government should implement a cross-departmental policy approach to social connection, 3) NSW government should promote public awareness of social connection through public health campaigns which reduce stigma, 4) NSW government should invest in community-level infrastructure, improving its accessibility and quality, to support neighbourhood-level social connection, 5) NSW should invest in expanding the evidence base around loneliness, and 6) NSW government should create supportive conditions for NSW residents to reduce social isolation and loneliness.