No One Should Feel Isolated This Christmas
As the festive season approaches and the year draws to a close, I reflect on the past year. For many, this time of year is filled with joy and connection, yet for too many others, it’s a time of profound loneliness.
Sadly, we’re witnessing a decline in community engagement across many areas – fewer people are joining community groups, volunteering, or building neighbourly connections. This erosion of our social capital – the bonds that connect us – has serious implications for our collective wellbeing and mental health.
I can’t help but think about those who won’t have the warmth of family gatherings or the comfort of loved ones. As many as one in three Australians experience loneliness at Christmas, with almost half of young men feeling isolated during this time of year. For many, it’s not just about being alone – it’s about feeling disconnected, and that’s when the pain of isolation can truly take hold.
Together, we can make a difference
At Breakthrough, we’re working hard to change this. Loneliness is a silent struggle for many, particularly during the holiday season, and it can severely impact mental health. Whether it’s the elderly who’ve lost loved ones or young people feeling lost, no one should face this time of year alone.
That’s why I’m reaching out to you. Your support can help fund life-changing mental health research (research and gift are too far from one another) and bring the gift of connection to those who need it most.
Gift of connection for Christmas
As our gift back to you, we’ve put together some practical tips and techniques to help manage loneliness, which you’ll find below. These were developed by our Breakthrough-funded researchers, Professor Tim Windsor and Little Heroes Professor Bridi O’Dea. They offer simple, evidence-based ways to make a difference – whether for yourself or someone you know who might be struggling this Christmas.
But we need to go further. By making a Christmas Gift of Connection, you’re not just helping us continue vital research; you’re giving someone the chance to feel less alone during what is for some a very challenging time.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of our Breakthrough community. Together, we can make sure that no one has to spend this festive season feeling isolated.
Wishing you a Christmas filled with joy, connection and love.
Warmest wishes,
Raquel Dillon
Head of Development
Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation
Frequently asked questions
Your donation will fund evidence-based research to better understand what causes mental illness, how to reduce its impact, and ultimately prevent mental illness. Thank you for your support.
All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.
Individuals like yourself contribute in creating a meaningful positive impact on lives who suffer from mental illness. Our dedicated supporters can donate either weekly, monthly or annually. This can be automatically processed through credit card transactions or direct debit, This ensures with regular support we can create a life free from mental illness.
See our latest impact report and how your generous donations have helped make advances in mental health research.
You can contact us here or by contacting our email info@breakthroughfoundation.org.au.
