Reducing social isolation and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic – Examples of promising practice from the Nordic countries

As loneliness has implications for people’s long-term mental and physical health, the consequences of the pandemic are significant for health and social care as a whole.

This report presents cases of what was done in the Nordic region to alleviate loneliness during the pandemic. The material for this report was collected between June and September 2022. The five Nordic examples show that there are many ways to tackle social isolation and loneliness.

In Finland, Sweden and Norway, digital tools such as online video meetings served as a bridge builder between parties and involuntarily isolated adults. In Denmark, the Landsforeningen Autisme/National Autism Association started up a telephone helpline and in the Icelandic town of Akureyri, snow was cleared to make it easier for residents to get around outdoors.

This report, Reducing social isolation and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples of promising practice from the Nordic countries, is published together with a literature review, The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social isolation and loneliness – A Nordic research review.