Grief is something we will all experience, but it’s also something that can feel very lonely. Supported by Medibank, ‘We are Lonely’ is a podcast that seeks to demystify loneliness and this bonus episode shares participant Charity’s experience with grief and loneliness, and how creativity can help with healing and connection.

This episode brings together singer songwriter, Alice Skye, Aunty Bea Ballangarry and Charity to talk about grief, and to work on a piece of music as a form of healing. There's no typical, or right, way to grieve. There is also no proper time frame for grief. It’s important that you allow yourself to feel what you feel and not try to suppress it. Reaching out and connecting with people, sharing memories, listening to music, meditating, writing about how we feel and taking the time to care for ourselves are all ways through grief.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to reach out for help. Thirteen Yarn is a national crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. They have a dedicated crisis support on Thirteen Ninety Two Seventy Six. Or you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or ReachOut dot com, which offers dedicated support for young people.

Host: Jemma Sbeg

Participants: Charity

Mentors: Alice Skye and Aunty Bea Ballangarry

We’ve had a chance to get to know our participants pretty well by now, but they still haven’t met each other. So we do the thing that is most practical when it comes to loneliness - bringing people together.

Charity, Tim, Aleks and Holly all head to Melbourne to meet and share their experiences with each other.

Host: Jemma Sbeg

Participants: Charity, Aleks, Tim and Holly

Mentors: Dr Deidre Anderson, Barry Conrad, Sean Szeps and Tessa Blencowe

Experts: Professor Ian Hickie and Dr Lisa Mundy

It’s pretty common to blame our blooming loneliness on technology. In this episode we tease out that theory and look at the ways technology is both helping and hindering our connection with other people.

Tim also meets with a psychologist who is part of a gaming research program to talk through the impacts gaming has on our brains and how to control our relationship with technology.

Host: Jemma Sbeg

Participants: Tim, Holly, Aleks and Charity

Mentors: Dr Deidre Anderson, Barry Conrad, Sean Szeps and Tessa Blencowe

Experts: Professor Ian Hickie and Dr Lisa Mundy

Guest - Shane Southwood