Young feel more insolated than elderly

Younger people feel more isolated and at risk of harm than older people, an Australian Red Cross survey has found.

The survey also shows 1.7 million young Australians would have no one to turn to in their local area for support in a crisis or emergency.

And two million people - or 10 per cent of Australians - said they felt isolated and at risk of harm at some time over the past five years.

The concern among young people was particularly alarming, Australian Red Cross chief executive Robert Tickner said.

"The myth that older people feel most at risk of harm is not substantiated in these findings," Mr Tickner said.

Fifteen per cent of 18- to 29-year olds had felt isolated or at risk of harm over the past five years, compared with 10 per cent of those aged 30-49 and nine per cent of those over 50.

Thirteen per cent of 18- to 29-year olds also experienced a drug and alcohol related crisis - more than double the rate of other age groups.

While 12 per cent of older people surveyed felt at risk of harm, the feeling was highest among unemployed and younger Australians.

The survey also showed most Australians were pessimistic about their ability to make a difference to hardship in the community.

The survey was conducted to identify the scale of everyday emergencies in the community and determine who people would turn to in their local area during a crisis.

The release of the results coincides with the launch on Thursday of the Red Cross Calling Appeal, its major fundraiser to support its local and overseas work.

Mr Tickner said while the word emergency conjured up images of large-scale disaster, many people endured their own personal emergencies daily.

"We must understand that their needs are as real and urgent as the often more visible victims of a large-scale disaster," he said.

The survey data was obtained from a nationally representative sample of 1,200 surveys conducted online this month.