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 Hamish Macdonald on the panel:
Gus Worland, Media personality and founder of the Gotcha4Life Foundation
Sarah Wilson, Television presenter and author, First, We Make the Beast Beautiful
Hugh McKay, Renowned social researcher, psychologist and author, The Inner Self
Dr Michelle Lim, Swinburne University Psychologist and author of the 2018 Australian Loneliness Report
Rosemary Kayess, Human Rights Lawyer and Associate Director of the Disability Innovation Institute, UNSW
Read more about our panelists here
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