This is an ABC podcast.

Hello and welcome. I'm Lynne Malcolm, delighted to be back with you on All In The Mind after a six-month break.

And I'd like to extend a very big thanks to Sana Khadar for taking care of all in the mind so beautifully while I've

been away. And what a time it's been. We could never have guessed the impact this COVID-19

pandemic would have on us. We're all affected in different ways, but the need to stay physically

distant from one another has highlighted the importance of

human connection, empathy and kindness, both for our mental and physical health.

Marta Zaraska

Social isolation is something that we have to do these days is unfortunately generally bad for our health. You know, there is research

showing that people who are socially isolated, they even respond worse to viruses. So if somebody

who is socially isolated encounters a virus, there are more likely to fall sick than people who are

not feeling isolated, which of course is

very ironic in these days when we have to be protecting ourselves and others by isolating.

But on the other hand, it has all this downhill effects on our health.

So of course, we have to find some ways to still feel connected in a safe way, for example,

by calling as much as you can.

And it's actually important to call instead of texting

because when you text others,

you don't get the same boost of oxytocin,

so the laugh hormone, the connection hormone,

that you do when you actually hear other people's voice.

So it is much more important to call

...