While listening to the radio on my way to town last week, I was confronted with a rather depressing message from the radio host.
She said that in New Zealand, more people die of loneliness than of obesity. This news, which came with the latest suicide figures, brought my perky mood right down. It also made me wonder how someone could possibly die of loneliness.
Later that day on Facebook, Kerri Tilby-Price from Exult shared a post from a Wellington-based community organisation called Kites Trust. It said: "When our nation's suicide rate is twice as high as our road fatality rate and deaths attributed to loneliness are twice that of deaths attributed to obesity ... we are a country in pain.
"A great nation with a great problem that we all need to face up to. You are a human being. Not a human doing."
I didn't know this, but loneliness is widely regarded as a serious risk factor for all kinds of health problems. It's linked to heart disease, depression, dementia, and weak immune system responses to illness, as well as impaired sleep.
I also found out, when I looked into it a little further, that weak social relationships influence a person's health as badly as smoking and alcohol consumption do.
The research I found online showed clearly that loneliness can indeed kill. It also stated that older people are especially at risk.
On the Age Concern website I found the results of a recent survey of older New Zealanders - 8 per cent of respondents rated themselves as being severely lonely.
Pair the above with last week's story about single pensioners surviving on just over $100 a week, and it gives us a pretty grim outlook for the future.
I turned 40 a few weeks ago, and although that isn't all that old, it still makes me wonder what my life will look like, let's say 25 years from now.
Will I have my health, my friends, will my children be near, or will I also become lonely and isolated? It's such a scary thought.
I have seen young people get frustrated and roll their eyes when they are behind an older person in the supermarket queue who is taking a little more time with their credit card than others.
I've also heard many people complain about older drivers. It annoys me, as a few minutes more or less shouldn't matter that much.
Some of the most interesting people I have met over the years were well in their 80s at the time.
They had some funny and interesting stories to tell, and I really enjoyed the contact we had. I could have stayed in touch, and looked them up every now and again, but for some reason I didn't bother.
A few years ago, I spotted an ad in the paper that asked for volunteers who would spend an hour or so a week visiting older people.
It was not to run errands for people or to take care of them - all that was required was a weekly visit and a chat.
I remember thinking how easy it would be to do this, how it could make a real difference in a person's life, and how it could enrich mine.
But I never picked up the phone to make it happen.
I guess I used the excuse of not having enough time, or not being able to commit to weekly visits because of my own irregular schedule.
Reasons that, now I think about it, were not that valid to begin with.
Then again, I also know it is never too late to start making a difference.
Age Concern, the organisation dedicated to serving the needs of older New Zealanders, still runs a service like this. It's called Accredited Visiting Service Ratonga Torotoro Whaimana, and further information can be found on their website www.ageconcern.org.nz/happiness/keeping-connected/would-you-more-company.
I emailed the service earlier today and requested more information about becoming a volunteer.
I am awaiting their reply, and hope that plenty of others will think about this, then decide to do the same.
Martine Rolls is a Tauranga writer and digital strategist.