Researchers have long known that loneliness and social isolation cause people significant emotional pain and can have a negative impact on their health and wellbeing. Now, with COVID-19, Australians are being told to socially distance.

This risks making the problems associated with loneliness worse. It’s important that people focus on keeping up social connections even while physically distancing - it’s perhaps our greatest resource and underpins social capital, social cohesion, good health, great neighbourhoods and being a happy human.

This second fact sheet in the series highlights some short-term tips on how Australians can be healthy social humans in these unusual times.