Loneliness, social isolation and COVID-19: practical advice

The LGA and Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) have jointly produced this practical advice for Directors of Public Health and others leading the response to the loneliness and social isolation issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The advice explains how early interventions to tackle loneliness and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond will help to prevent more costly health and care needs from developing, as well as aiding community resilience and recovery.

This advice highlights how this can only be done at the local level through partnerships between the council, voluntary and community sector, councillors, primary care networks and relevant others, including housing. It points out that Councils have a key role to play in this, because they own most of the assets where community action could or should take place, such as parks, libraries and schools, with councillors creating the localised neighbourhood partnerships to deal with a range of mental and physical health issues. There is also an opportunity to harness and develop the positive changes that we are seeing, such as greater awareness about the impact of personal behaviours on mental wellbeing.

The advice also references the Housing LIN’s recent practice briefing ‘An A-z of organisations and websites on ageing, loneliness and social isolation’.