In the Blue Mountains, a 90-minute drive west of Sydney, Australia, a group of people are chatting and gardening. In the summer, they grow cucumbers, tomatoes, and beans. In the winter, they harvest broccoli, kale, radishes, and more.
They are local volunteers led by Manu Prigioni. “It’s not just about food, our gardening is about social connection, helping lonely people integrate into the community,” said Ms. Prigioni.
The project Prigioni started four years ago is called Farm it Forward. Many landowners have donated part of their land to the project. In return, they can interact with many people, avoiding the risk of social isolation. One of these landowners is Sylvia May, 79. “Without Farm it Forward, most of my social relationships would be with people my own age. It’s nice to mix with people of different ages, it makes me feel like myself, not just an old person,” May said.
Landowners like Mrs May receive free food. The rest of the harvest is sold directly to the community to help support the young people who volunteer at the gardens.
A study published in the journal Nature Human Behavior by Harbin Medical University in China found a link between loneliness and premature death in more than 2 million adults. According to the study, people who experienced social isolation had a 32% higher risk of premature death from any cause.
Dr Grant Blashki, clinical adviser at mental health service Beyond Blue, said that lonely people have a 30% higher risk of heart disease and stroke. “We also know that loneliness and social isolation are also linked to higher levels of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, dementia and even suicide. So we really need social connection,” Mr Blashki said.
Prigioni herself started Farm it Forward out of her own struggles with mental health. Growing up in Northern Italy, she migrated to Australia at the age of 19. The move from Sydney to a small semi-rural community was a shock. Prigioni felt isolated, especially after giving birth, when she suffered from post-natal depression without the support of her family nearby. Under the guidance of a psychologist, Prigioni took up gardening and developed a passion for permaculture. This connected her with other like-minded people. Gradually, the project grew into a large family.
Dr Blashki said community projects like Farm it Forward were increasingly being seen by the medical profession as a solution to social isolation. “Physicians are being encouraged to prescribe social medicine, to recommend that patients join community groups. The medical profession has understood that engaging people in social interaction is a really important part of their lives,” Mr Blashki said.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, social isolation is defined as a lack of contact with others and can be related to having a limited social network, or living alone. Meanwhile, loneliness is an emotional state, responding to a lower than desired level of social contact.
MINH CHAU
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