Lifeline WA supports record number of West Australians as social isolation, loneliness take hold

Young West Australians crippled by social isolation and loneliness have driven record-breaking demand for Lifeline WA’s services. The charity’s chief executive Lorna MacGregor believes the rise of remote work, coupled with the cost of living crisis, is contributing to mental health issues in young adults, many of whom are deprived of meaningful, face-to-face connection. Lifeline WA delivered 163,644 conversations across its voice, text and online chat channels in the 2024-25 financial year, a 21 per cent increase on the previous year and double the forecasted growth of eight to 10 per cent. Most of the growth took place across the charity’s text and chat services, with 55 per cent of those users aged below 25 and 40 per cent aged under 16. The biggest issues raised by young people were social isolation and loneliness, the cost of living, social media, self image and bullying. Ms MacGregor said the working-from-home culture normalised during the pandemic had emerged as a driver of social isolation. “We’re increasingly seeing people who are just working from their bedrooms and isolated day after day,” she said. “For many people, your work community is the most important community of your life, and for young people it’s where they find like-minded friends. Many people even find their partner. “I do worry about the impact of the normalisation of remote working, and it does appear that young people are more likely to work remotely than older people.” The cost of living crisis was exacerbating loneliness, Ms MacGregor said, because it was “very hard to actively socialise if you’re worried about money or if you have instability of housing”. Some workplaces have started mandating a return to the office, and Ms MacGregor hoped more firms would follow suit, for at least part of the working week. “I personally believe this is an emerging mental health issue, and I think workplaces have to mandate coming into the office,” she said. “The convenience of not attending work (in person) is always there, it will always be easier not to go into work.” Ms MacGregor said the increased demand was positive as it meant more people were seeking help. She said Lifeline WA continued to recruit volunteer crisis supporters to meet demand and reduce wait times. WA’s Commissioner for Children and Young People Jacqueline McGowan-Jones said there was a looming crisis in child and youth wellbeing. Writing for The West Australian, Ms McGowan-Jones said young people felt unsafe, unsupported and unheard. The Commissioner’s team is conducting the latest Speaking Out Survey across WA, and Ms McGowan Jones said the data painted a troubling picture, “particularly for girls, of declining mental health, increasing pressure and unmet needs in emotional, social and cultural support.” “Sadly, many young people tell me they continue to fall through the gaps, being too acute for one service and not acute enough for the other,” she wrote. “We must focus on the critical need for a comprehensive suite of services and supports across the prevention, intervention, postvention and aftercare continuum to keep our children safe.” LIFELINE 13 11 14