Our recent webinar featured insightful presentations on global and national approaches to loneliness and social connection.
Dr. Nina Goldman (University of Basel) shared her groundbreaking review of loneliness policies across 194 WHO member states, highlighting the “Geography of Loneliness” and its impact on urban well-being.
Dr. Kiffer Card (Simon Fraser University) discussed Canada’s public health guidelines for social connection, emphasizing the strategic shift from focusing on loneliness to promoting connection.
The session concluded with an engaging Q&A moderated by Dr. Joanna McHugh Power (Maynooth University), who facilitated a dynamic discussion on these critical topics.
As loneliness emerges as a critical public health challenge worldwide, understanding how different nations approach this issue has never been more vital. Whether you’re a researcher, healthcare professional, policy maker, or passionate about community wellbeing, this webinar offers a unique opportunity to learn from groundbreaking international policy analysis and innovative public health approaches.
The Loneliness Taskforce Research Network (LTRN) invites you to an engaging webinar exploring international approaches to loneliness policy and their potential application as health guidelines for social connection.
Featured Speakers
Dr. Nina Goldman
Lecturer, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel
A human geographer with a passion for interdisciplinary research, Dr. Goldman will present her groundbreaking work reviewing loneliness policies across 194 WHO member states. Her current research focuses on the Geography of Loneliness, examining how urban environments impact resident wellbeing and health.
Dr. Kiffer Card
Assistant Professor and MSHRBC Scholar, Simon Fraser University
An accomplished behavioral epidemiologist and health services researcher, Dr. Card will discuss the development of public health guidelines for social connection in Canada, with particular emphasis on the strategic decision to focus on social connection rather than loneliness. Dr. Card’s extensive research has been featured in nearly 100 publications and has earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the 2021 MSFHR Scholar Award and the 2020 CIHR-IHSPR Rising Star Award.
Q&A Session
The presentations will be followed by an interactive Q&A session moderated by LTRN Chair Dr. Joanna McHugh Power, Associate Professor in Psychology at Maynooth University. Dr. McHugh Power brings extensive expertise in loneliness and social functioning in later life, with particular focus on its impact on cognitive aging and physical health. As a member of the International Loneliness and Isolation Research Network (I-LINK), she has contributed significantly to the field through research, policy development, and practical interventions.
Event Details
This webinar is free and open to all LTRN members and colleagues
Join us for expert insights into international loneliness policies
Learn about innovative approaches to social connection guidelines
Engage with leading researchers in the field
Why Attend?
This webinar presents a rare opportunity to:
Gain comprehensive insights into how different nations approach loneliness through policy
Learn directly from experts who are shaping the future of social connection guidelines
Understand the strategic shift from focusing on loneliness to promoting social connection
Connect with colleagues who share your interest in addressing this critical public health challenge
Contribute to the evolving dialogue on effective policy responses to loneliness
Apply international best practices to your own work or research
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore how different nations approach loneliness policy and contribute to the growing dialogue on social connection guidelines in public health.
We wanted to inform members of Loneliness Taskforce Research Network (LTRN) that there is a free hybrid event being hosted by the JRC to launch their new book about loneliness in Europe.
Why This Matters for LTRN Researchers
This book launch offers new insights on the determinants, risks, and interventions for loneliness. The book features evidence from the first comprehensive EU-wide loneliness survey (30,000 participants across 27 nations) – in which Ireland was found to be the most lonely – and has a multidisciplinary approach examining loneliness from social, health, and policy perspectives. The book seeks to answer three key questions:
What do we know about loneliness in Europe?
Why is loneliness not only an individual but also a societal problem?
What can we do to address loneliness?
The authors of the book will present results from the book at this event. It will be relevant and interesting for LTRN members, and it is free to join. Event details and more information can be found below.
Event Details:
Date: Friday, 7 February 2025 Time: 14:30 – 18:30 (CET) Format: Hybrid – In-person and Online Cost: Free Language: English Event website: click here
Speakers and Presentations
Laura Cassio, Senior Expert at the European Commission, JRC (Moderator)
Michaela Saisana, Head of Unit S3, JRC (Opening remarks)
Caterina Mauri, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Introduction to loneliness in the EU)
Francesco Berlingieri, JRC (Introduction to loneliness in the EU)
Matija Kovacic, JRC (Childhood experiences, health and loneliness)
Béatrice d’Hombres, JRC (Social media use and loneliness)
Chiara Gentile, JRC (Social media use and loneliness)
Elena Stepanova, JRC (Loneliness, societal preferences and political attitudes)
Minna Nurminen, JRC (Counteracting the effects of loneliness)
Sylke Schnepf, JRC (Closing remarks)
No Registration Required
A unique opportunity to expand your research network and access cutting-edge findings in loneliness studies. Simply follow the link above for event details.
Free access to the e-version of the book is available now:
Our recent webinar by our chair Joanna McHugh Power, PhD, Associate Professor in Psychology in Maynooth University who gave an overview of guidelines that aim to evaluate social isolation and loneliness interventions in a lunchtime webinar.
Join us for a webinar by our chair Joanna McHugh Power, PhD, Associate Professor in Psychology in Maynooth University who will give an overview of guidelines that aim to evaluate social isolation and loneliness interventions in a lunchtime webinar.
Registration: Please fill in the form below to register your place A link to the webinar will will be sent on in advance.
Audience: All stakeholders interested in loneliness.
