'Relationships people have with friends are as psychologically meaningful and deep as romantic relationships.'
The bonds of friendship can be as deep, close and important as romantic relationships, says psychologist Dr Katie Greenaway, which is one reason so many people living alone have felt our year of isolation so keenly.
"Just because people aren't in a romantic relationship with someone doesn't mean they wouldn't treat that person as their 'intimate' partner." She is among the fastest-growing demographic among Australian households, solo dwellers, which demographer Hugh Mackay calls "the single most significant demographic statistic about Australian society". He says the rapid rise of living alone has not been well enough factored in to social planning and the cracks are showing in the pandemic.
When people, particularly those living alone, are experiencing social isolation, a fundamental human need is being frustrated."Social isolation is a dangerous state for ... humans because we absolutely need each other, we are that kind of species. We need groups to sustain and maintain our mental health."
Those with the greatest likelihood of experiencing poor mental health were people living alone, those having lost a job, those being fearful of contracting COVID-19 and those "experiencing the restrictions as having very adverse effects on their lives" – many living alone could be in all of those groups, according to Jane Fisher, professor of Global Health at Monash University.
"They need to be able to re-engage in purposeful activity and social engagement in groups of more than one other person and it should be a priority as we lift regulations." This may be experienced as "I feel like I'm in a tunnel and there's no end, a claustrophobic shortness of breath because of the sense this might go on for weeks."
"A lot live more than five kilometres away from people they want to catch up with, it's been really hard for people in Victoria," he said.
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