We’re being warned loneliness could be the next possible public health issue in Australia.

Research has revealed anyone can be affected by loneliness regardless of gender, age, or socioeconomic status.

Loneliness can have a detrimental effect on our health, communities, workplaces and schools.

Director of the social health and wellbeing laboratory Dr Michelle Lim says loneliness and social isolation are different, but combined they can have a worse adverse effect.