Doing things differently, on purpose (why we do what we do!)

Do you know who the loneliest age group in Australia is? Hint: It’s not older adults.

It’s actually young people.

Despite being the most digitally connected generation in history, young Australians aged 15–24 are the most likely to experience feelings of loneliness and disconnection. We also know that around 4 in 10 young people in Australia experience problems with their mental health. And the most common mental health concern? Anxiety- with social anxiety topping the list.

Before the Social Confidence Collective came to life (even before these statistics were published) our team was already seeing this firsthand. As senior youth mental health clinicians, we worked with many young people and their supports where experiences of social isolation, exclusion or discrimination had taken a toll on their mental health. And vice versa: young people whose struggles with mental health had derailed their social lives. Often, both dynamics were at play, feeding into each other in an isolating, vicious cycle.

What became clear to us was just how crucial authentic, meaningful social connection is to wellbeing.

That’s why we launched the Social Confidence Collective.

Instead of focusing on symptom reduction, we wanted to centre our work on what we knew to be a key ingredient of wellness: social connectedness.

Our team originally met while co-facilitating therapy groups, and with a focus on social occupations it felt only natural that our main mode of support would be through social groups, rather than a therapy armchair.

We also didn’t want to run groups focused on teaching “social skills” to support young people to “fit in” (more on that in another blog post!): we wanted to create real spaces for authentic connection. Places where young people could be themselves, supported by therapists who are skilled in supporting young people with anxiety and the other barriers that can get in the way of connection.

And yes, our social groups look like a lot of fun- because they are! Each group is co-created with its participants. That might mean games, creative activities, shared playlists, snacks, or just sitting and chatting. Alongside this, our practice model involves each participant meeting regularly 1:1 with one of our therapists, creating space to reflect on what’s happening in the group and how it feels.

Because our therapists are in the group- not just hearing about social situations in a therapy setting- we can offer unique insights and support. We’re right there to notice and name the moments that matter: when someone speaks up for the first time, shares an idea, or tries showing up in a new, more authentic way. We can support them to learn and practice skills in anxiety management, sensory regulation or take steps towards the goals that are meaningful to them.

We can help participants unlearn the negative beliefs they’ve internalised about themselves, and practice new ways of being in a space that feels safe, supportive, and real.

So if you’re after a generalist OT, or a social skills teaching group: we’re probably not the right fit for you! But if you know a young person who wants to re-connect with others with the support of therapists who get it, we’d love to hear from you.