Social isolation and loneliness guide

Social isolation has a significant impact on the health of the local population, and it is agreed that it needs to be a system-wide priority.

This guide aims to help you to understand social isolation and loneliness and how they can present.

Wherever you work or volunteer, or if you want to support your friends, family or neighbours, this guide offers you:

• support in identifying what social isolation and loneliness look like and ways to prevent it
• support in how to have strength-based conversations
• guidance on where you can signpost people for further support

We set out with the aim of writing guidance on social isolation. Following in-depth research and consultation with stakeholders, it has become clear that social isolation and loneliness are often interchangeable concepts. We have therefore expanded the scope of this guide to include both.