All by myself

Back in the 1960s when Elvis Presley first swooned Are You Lonesome Tonight, he wouldn’t have had any idea that his heartbreaking lament would take on its greatest significance six decades later. But in Australia, and around the world, loneliness has become a massive health epidemic. In fact, researchers say being lonely is just as detrimental to our wellbeing as smoking and excessive drinking. And that means loneliness can be deadly. Just as worrying, it doesn’t discriminate. Loneliness can strike anyone, young, old, male, female, rich or poor.

Reporter: Tom Steinfort 
Producers: Nick Greenaway, Madeleine Apps