Picnics hosted by Conscious Connections help people feeling lonely form new friendships

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Thousands of Australians seek connection, amid what experts are calling a loneliness epidemic. But a group of young people are turning to picnics to foster new friendships. This was sparked by one woman's journey to build genuine relationships.

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00:00While it might look like a catch up between old friends, the people sharing these cheeseboards

00:06are complete strangers.

00:09People just wanted to drink and they wanted to talk about work and COVID and the weather

00:13and I just thought that there had to be other people out there who were like me who enjoy

00:16a deep and meaningful conversation.

00:18Sheridan Hackney created the concept to deal with her own feelings of loneliness.

00:23It's amazing seeing people just sort of get out of their comfort zone to make new friends

00:27and how many people are actually willing to do that is such a testament to everyone's

00:31resilience and how much it's really needed in society right now.

00:35Experts say we're in a loneliness epidemic.

00:38One in four young Australians is feeling socially isolated.

00:42There is masses and masses of research out there now pointing to how important social

00:48connectedness is for our mental health and our physical health.

00:52The World Health Organisation says now more than ever, fostering connection is vital,

00:57with social isolation as damaging to the human body as smoking 15 cigarettes every single

01:03day.

01:04So now young people are taking matters into their own hands.

01:08I saw it on TikTok at a time where I was just feeling pretty lonely and bought a ticket,

01:13came along in January this year and it has been genuinely life changing.

01:19We're seeing each other every second weekend if not more and every time we catch up it's

01:23just so easy and genuine and lovely.

01:27Loneliness being tackled one picnic at a time.

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