Loneliness Is a Health Problem. Here’s How to Heal It.
PREFACE:
This is the fourth article in our ongoing wellbeing series, inspired by the Lululemon Global Wellbeing Report 2024. At Mode, we’re exploring the deeper structures of health—social, emotional, biological—and reconnecting modern medicine with the very human need for belonging.
You can be surrounded by people and still feel it. That hollow ache. That sense that no one truly sees you. Loneliness isn’t just a passing mood—it’s a physiological burden. And according to Lululemon’s latest data, it’s a quiet epidemic:
89% of those experiencing wellbeing burnout say loneliness is a contributing factor.
It makes sense. Connection is core to survival. We are, biologically and evolutionarily, built to co-regulate—to be witnessed, supported, mirrored. When those bonds fray, stress rises, immune function weakens, and even the body’s healing capacity diminishes.
THE BIOLOGY OF BELONGING
Loneliness isn’t merely psychological. Studies show it increases cortisol, disrupts sleep, and heightens inflammation—three markers closely linked to chronic disease. In contrast, people who report feeling connected to their community experience 16% higher overall wellbeing and 28% more sense of purpose. In other words, having a reason to get out of bed—and someone to share tea with—might be more therapeutic than any supplement.
WHAT WE SEE AT MODE
At Mode, many of our patients aren’t just navigating symptoms. They’re navigating disconnection—after a move, a divorce, a diagnosis, or the gradual erosion of meaningful community. It’s rarely spoken aloud. But we see it clearly. That’s why our model of care is deliberately human. Yes, we treat with science-backed medicine. But we also build systems of support. That means telehealth with real continuity. It means sending notes, checking in, remembering your dog’s name. And it means acknowledging that health isn’t just about biomarkers. It’s about being met—fully—as a person.
At Mode, we treat people, not parts. Our approach recognises loneliness as both a symptom and a root cause. Whether you’re burnt out, isolated, or simply craving a deeper kind of care, we’re here to reconnect you—with your body, your goals, and your community.
At Mode, we’re redefining what it means to feel well.
Rooted in natural therapies and backed by science, we treat the human—not just the symptom. Whether you're feeling stuck, stressed, or simply ready to take your health seriously, our care team is here to guide you gently forward.
We have clinics in Bunbury, Dunsborough, Perth, Bangalow and nationally with our Telehealth Clinic.
Start with a free 20-minute nurse consult to see if Mode is right for you—or book directly with one of our expert doctors to begin treatment today.
