The Healing Power of Human Connection

We are in the midst of a hidden crisis, with a third of Australians feeling lonely, and one in six  feeling severely lonely, at any given time. Huge shifts in technology and culture have changed the landscape of human interaction, and despite having devices at our fingertips that offer unparalleled opportunities for connection, we are lonelier than ever.

Social isolation and loneliness are more than distressing feelings. The experience of being disconnected from others – having few social connections, social roles, group memberships and infrequent interactions – is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. Loneliness also takes a profound toll on societal health, with diminished connection and engagement felt negatively across schools, workplaces and communities.

The situation compelled the Society to make a recent submission to the NSW Government Inquiry into Loneliness, in which investment in person-to-person programs is recommended as one of the paths toward healing. The Society are on the frontline of the loneliness epidemic, delivering over 100 local services and programs that offer emotional support, companionship and opportunities for social inclusion – beacons for those who are lonely.

Among these is Vinnies Connect, a one-to-one program that matches lonely people with caring volunteers, in the hopes that a friendship will blossom. Vinnies Connect matches people who share similar interests, live nearby each other and are keen to meet regularly in casual social settings, like cafes, parks and shops.

Chris Stevens, who has been managing Vinnies Connect for eight years, said that the program’s strength lies in the fact that it fosters companionship through everyday engagement, such as dog-walking and catching up over coffee. Mr. Stevens, who has facilitated countless matches, believes that encouraging small social risks and building up people’s trust and conversation skills are natural steps toward inclusion. “Friendship is a pre-cursor for wellbeing,” Mr. Stevens said. “It’s a joy to see someone ‘come to life’ and re-join their community.”

Carlos*, a program participant since 2020, was experiencing clinical depression and anxiety and was profoundly lonely when his counsellor suggested Vinnies Connect. The friendship Carlos formed through the program, and its benefits, have been life changing. “It’s got me out of my shell that much [that] I’m networking with other groups in the Shire. I’m busy, I’m more happy, more aware, and I’m really grateful,” Carlos said.

Like Erin and Carlos, participants of Vinnies Connect report dramatic increases in their sense of community connectedness after six-months of involvement with the program. There is also a huge increase in participants’ reported satisfaction with their personal relationships. And the benefits are two-way, with volunteers reporting that they are also changed by their friendships. “It’s much more enriching than you’d realise, it opens your mind. It’s a great experience, you’ll learn a lot,” said Elliott, who has volunteer with Vinnies Connect since 2020. “I think we’re meant to be relational and have a friend. I think it’s really critical and mentally healthy,” Elliott said.

Through fostering human connection, Vinnies Connect helps people build meaningful social connections that greatly enrich lives. The Vinnies Connect approach is seen as a genuine solution to our current crisis. “It’s the shape of the future because it has that relational, social underpinning at the centre of what occurs within the program, and without that, we’re not actually aligning with our ordinary brilliance as human beings,” said Bradley Foxlewin, former Deputy Commissioner of the Mental Health Commission, and long-time supporter of Vinnies Connect.

*names have been changed