Background
World Health Assembly Resolution WHA78.9 calls on WHO to develop recommendations and guidance on addressing social connection in national health policies and programmes. In addition, the WHO Commission on Social Connection has identified the development of guidelines on interventions to promote social connection and reduce social isolation and loneliness as a priority. Hence, the WHO Department of Social Determinants of Health has initiated the process of developing guidelines for interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness for children aged five-years old and more right through to older people. It is expected that these guidelines will improve decision-making and provide up-to-date knowledge to policymakers to inform national policies on to address social connection, social isolation, and loneliness.
Social isolation and loneliness are in themselves important and under-recognized social determinants of health. They are widespread, with one person in six globally reporting loneliness and have serious consequences for health and well-being. They have serious impacts on mortality, physical health (e.g. cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes), mental health (e.g. depression and anxiety) and society (e.g. education, employment, economic growth, innovation). New estimates suggest that loneliness accounts for approximately 871 000 deaths each year (2014–2019). The economic costs to employers, health care and individuals are significant and are only beginning to be estimated.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is considering the following eighteen experts to join its Guideline Development Group (GDG) for interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness – from children to older people. The role of the GDG is to provide technical and/or normative advice and recommendations to WHO. The names and brief biographies of individuals being considered for participation in the GDG are hereby published for public notice and comment.
Comments and perceptions brought to the knowledge of WHO through this process are an integral component of WHO’s Conflicts of Interest assessment policy to strengthen public trust and transparency in connection with WHO meetings involving the provision of technical/normative advice. Comments and perceptions will be carefully reviewed and treated confidentially. The comments will not be published and will be kept in record. WHO reserves the right to discuss information received through this process with the relevant expert with no attribution to the provider of such information. Upon review and assessment of the information received through this process, WHO, in its sole discretion, may take appropriate management action in accordance with its policies. The participation of an expert in a WHO meeting does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization, nor does it create a binding relationship between the expert and WHO. The list of participating experts, a summary of relevant interests disclosed by such experts, and any appropriate mitigation measures taken by WHO relating to the management of conflicts of interest, will be reported publicly in accordance with WHO practice.
Comments should be provided by email, and the receipt of these will be acknowledged through generic email notification to the sender.Please send your comment to yeji@who.int with the subject “Public notice and comments on the WHO Guideline Development Group for WHO Guidelines on interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness – from children to older people” with indication of the name, nature and contact details of the sender.
The deadline for public comments is on 8 August 2025 (Friday).