03/08/2025
Loneliness Awareness Week starts today.
Despite all the connections we have online, loneliness is still a growing issue. Research shows that 1 in 6 Australians experience severe loneliness, and 1 in 4 feel lonely some of the time.
Loneliness isnāt just a feelingāit can affect our mental health, lead to more visits to the doctor, lower productivity, and reduce overall quality of life.
But thereās good news: Laughter really can help.
Laughter clubsāpart of the grassroots Laughter Yoga movementāoffer free or low-cost sessions to bring people together, face to face, through something we all share: laughter.
I like to think of laughter club sessions as āspeed friendingāābecause laughing together helps us feel genuinely connected, fast.
This week in South-East Queensland, join a local laughter club near you. You can just show up!
š Monday 10am ā 10ā12 James Street, Beenleigh
š Wednesday 12pm ā Memorial Park, Cnr Limestone & Nicholas Streets, Ipswich
š Thursday 6pm ā North Lakes Library, 10 The Corso
š Saturday 9am ā Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens
š Saturday 9.30am ā Walton Bridge Park, The Gap
And remember, laughter clubs are here even when loneliness awareness isnāt the topic of the week. š
