Invited discussant comments during the UCL-Penn Global COVID Study webinar ‘Alone Together: Loneliness Research and Social Health Innovation in Lockdown and Beyond’

Abstract

The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has influenced people’s social relationships around the world in surprising ways. It has also underscored the importance of and accelerated innovation in solutions for social isolation and loneliness. This commentary offers takeaways from emerging research findings and a wide lens on the societal movement underway to create more socially connected communities.

Covid-19 pandemic: our relationships, environment, and health

“…Even prior to the pandemic, there were discussions about a worldwide ‘loneliness epidemic’. Kasley Killam, founder of Social Health Labs, in a discussant article [ 5 ], recognised the need to facilitate initiatives to tackle loneliness as part of ‘social’ health and offered insights into existing local, national and international initiatives in place to reconnect individuals. Social health, she argues, is of equal importance to mental and physical health, and perhaps a priority area for post-pandemic recovery strategies when considering the importance of local community spaces in promoting social connections in the population and pandemic recovery.…”