AIA Australia has released a report delving into the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on Australians' mental health and how social connection benefits mental wellbeing.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic started, AIA Australia found that mental disorders were the leading causes of the global health burden, with depression and anxiety being major contributors. When the COVID-19 pandemic started, people's mental health took an immediate hit. The number of Australians with depressive and anxiety disorders increased by over a quarter in 2020 alone. The pandemic had also increased job insecurity, financial strain, and isolation, amplifying the already red-hot demand for mental health services, products, and solutions.
Named “The Power of Social Connection,” AIA Australia's report aims to understand the vital role of social connection – the experience of feeling close and a sense of belongingness with others – in improving mental health. It also addresses the systematic impacts of unprecedented living and working conditions on Australians' mental health over the past 24 months.
The report claimed that social relationships may affect a wide range of health outcomes, including mental health, physical health, general health habits, and mortality risks. Additionally, other studies suggested that a lack of social connection might damage health more than obesity, smoking, and high blood pressure.
AIA Australia CEO and managing director Damien Mu explained that thriving communities generate a natural sense of belonging between people. However, the unprecedented restrictions during the pandemic fundamentally impacted social connection opportunities.
“The daily lives of Australians have changed significantly over the last two years. Extended periods of lockdown, remote working, and education have increased feelings of loneliness, stress, and anxiety,” he said.
“The purpose of AIA Australia's new The Power of Social Connection report is to progress the conversation around the mental health challenges facing Australians. We hope that increased dialogue about these issues and increased awareness of the importance of preventative measures will lead to improved health outcomes that enable people to live healthier, longer, better lives.”
Considering its report's findings, AIA Australia has decided to team up with the St Kilda Football Club to launch the new Danny Frawley Centre for Health and Wellbeing, powered by AIA Vitality, to improve Australians' mental health.
St Kilda Football Club CEO Matt Finnis said the facilities and programs in the new centre are available for the football club's players, coaches, and staff, as well as its community.
“We hope the Danny Frawley Centre can help progress the conversation and focus towards mental health as a means of promoting a thriving community,” Finnis said. “AIA Australia has also been crucial in getting us to this point, and we look forward to continuing our partnership as the Danny Frawley Centre grows.”
Mu added: “The Danny Frawley Centre for Health and Wellbeing is a beacon of hope for the St Kilda community and will be a place where people can create a sense of belonging and see their physical and mental wellbeing flourish. AIA Australia is proud to be involved in the centre and looks forward to hearing the positive stories that will come from it.”
The report's publication follows AIA Australia's partnership with the Australasian Menopause Society (AMS), composed of doctors and allied health professionals, to combat frequent misdiagnosis of menopause.
