Loneliness affects everyone, regardless of age, gender, status or location. It is a universal experience and doesn’t always relate to being physically alone, but also how someone can feel alone even when surrounded by others. School is a time when kids are figuring themselves out, taking risks and making mistakes, and can also be the time when kids feel isolated from their peers and finding a group that understands them can make all the difference.
“I don’t have too many friends at school, moved to a new school, not really my people”. 16 year old Ocean and 14 year old Tully, share their experiences about fitting in at school and how finding a community outside of school is where they have found a sense of belonging. “being at footy and being in a team, connecting on the footy field.” Loneliness for young people is largely about feeling disconnected from those around you.
Psychologist Emma Sharland shares her experiences as a school counsellor, witnessing firsthand how kids with differences can be more susceptible to the feelings associated with loneliness “a large part of my case load are neurodivergent young people, also LGBTQ+ young people … they are two potentially isolated vulnerable groups, and as a consequence of that, I think increases their vulnerability to loneliness”.
Having that sense of community and connection to combat those feelings of loneliness is extremely valuable, whether that be connecting on the footy field, like Ocean and Tully, or through programs such as the well-being hub that has been established at Sharland’s school “by having that safe space, it’s one place in their experience of school that can enable them to connect socially and feel like they belong.”
For students that are experiencing isolation and feelings of loneliness, finding that sense of connection and community is so vital, and reaching out to those around you is the first step. Ocean puts it in his words “when other people are reaching out to you, just as much as you’re reaching out to them, whether it’s to go do something or, when you can see that someone’s thought of you, to invite you somewhere, or check in with you or anything like that, that really makes you feel like you belong.”
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