Australians are more depressed, anxious and socially fragmented than ever before.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
So argues renowned sociologist Dr Hugh Mackay in his latest book, Australia Reimagined: Towards a More Compassionate, Less Anxious Society.
The best-selling author said he was moved to write the book to show how Australia’s so-called unprecedented run of economic growth had nevertheless failed to deliver a more stable and harmonious society.
Dr Mackay, who launched his 19th book, at the University of Wollongong, told the Mercury he was though very inspired by the next generation.
Read more: No more suffering in silence with anxiety
“I think the much maligned millennials have got their thinking much straighter than older Australians about this [creating a more compassionate society],” he said.
“Two things about Australia that I think are closely connected and deeply disturbing are one we are more socially fragmented and it has got to the stage where many more people are experiencing social isolation.
“The fact number two is we have got an epidemic of anxiety and we’ve got a mental health crisis and I think those two facts are absolutely connected.
“If we allow ourselves to become more fragmented we will pay this very high mental and emotional price.”
The irony wasn’t lost on Dr Mackay that a [digital] revolution that promised to make us all connected, has made it easier than ever to stay apart from each other.
“We need each other, and just sending messages, just data transfer in the digital space is not enough,” the Honorary Professor of Social Sciences at UOW said.
I think we have to rediscover the lost art of compassion.
- Dr Hugh Mackay
“I think we have to rediscover the lost art of compassion. I’m not talking about emotions or affection for people.”
Dr Mackay added humans needed each other, their neighbourhoods and communities to be healthy, to be healthy themselves.
“The only way to make that happen is to develop the mental discipline of treating each other kindly and respectfully even if we don’t especially like each other,” he said.
“We’ve got to get along. That’s what makes the human species thrive. It’s what makes communities strive.”
Dr Mackay said while it would be nice to hear more from political and other leaders about the kind of society we are becoming and the kind of society we could become, individuals need to be “ambassadors for social cohesion”.
“A bit of inspiration from the top would be helpful but I think we’ve got to take it on ourselves to change things if we don’t like the way society is going.
“It might be naive but I can imagine a society in which we were fully conscious of the need to maintain contact with the people around us and to exercise compassion.”