As Loneliness Awareness Week draws near (starting on 5 August 2024), it’s time to talk about the role laughter clubs can play as a social prescription for people feeling lonely.
Who feels lonely?
As many as 1 in 3 Australians feel lonely and 1 in 6 experience severe loneliness, according to the State of The State of the Nation Social Connection in Australia 2023 report released earlier this year.
This study shows:
- 15% always or often feel lonely
- 25% feel lonely some of the time
- 26% occasionally feel lonely occasionally.
Where you live (regional vs suburban), whether you live by yourself or with others, and how well off you are financially has an impact. Gender doesn’t. Interestingly, digital natives (18-24 year olds) and middle-aged (43-54 years) are most affected but SSSSHHHH! Loneliness is seen as a thing of shame and embarrassment to confess to…
Read the full State of the Nation Report Social Connection in Australia 2023 report here.
The cost of loneliness
Growing loneliness and social isolation impact on the individuals and the community as a whole. Here’s why it’s a big deal and something we need to tackle as a nation.
Higher levels of loneliness are associated with:
- greater social anxiety
- depression
- less social interaction
- more chronic disease
- lower workplace productivity
- more visits to the GP
- more presentations at hospital emergency rooms without being hospitalised
- poorer quality of life.
Chronic loneliness and social isolation are ideal candidates for ‘social prescriptions‘ one of which would be a laughter club because, as the saying goes, ‘laughter is good medicine’.
Laughter clubs’ health-giving roles
Laughter clubs lift spirits and heart rate, are absolutely welcoming and fun.
They’re like ‘speed friending’ because, really, the distance between people shortens when you’re laughing together.
You don’t need to know anyone to come along. You become part of ‘the gang’ within minutes.
You don’t need to be in a good mood.
You don’t need to know any jokes.
It’s not ageist. Anyone of any age or ability is welcome.
It’s not expensive either. Most are free or very low cost.
State of the Nation Report Social Connection in Australia 2023 says it’s up to all Australians to encourage meaningful connections. That’s something laughter clubs have quietly been doing for 20 years throughout Australia. It’s time to take the health-giving benefits of laughter seriously.
Queensland laughter club locations are listed here.
This link is for other Australian states’ in-person laughter clubs as well as online laughter clubs.
No laughter club in your community? Establish one by training as a laughter leader, volunteering to bring more joy into your community and your life.
About the Author
HeatherJoy Campbell is Queensland’s Global Ambassador for Laughter Yoga International. She hosts 2 neighbourhood laughter clubs, runs workshops for community groups and workplaces as well as sessions in aged care, and trains people in how to be laughter yoga leaders.