Reducing loneliness in the community. More Together – a complex intervention in Denmark

Abstract

Abstract The mounting evidence that loneliness is a determinant of poor health and wellbeing underpins the need for effective interventions and community action. A public health approach to loneliness involving both targeted individual interventions and community-level interventions has been highlighted as a promising avenue. However, there is limited knowledge on how to effectively develop and implement such interventions. ‘More Together (‘Flere i Fællesskaber')’ is a large-scale, complex, multi-component and multi-level intervention for community change that addresses loneliness among young people and older adults in Silkeborg Municipality, Denmark. The intervention is inspired by the Collective Impact framework, it is practice driven and rooted in an extensive cross-sector partnership including institutions, organisations, and companies. The intervention, which is currently underway, is implemented in the course of a four-year period, and the overall effect will be assessed in a large impact evaluation. This presentation outlines (1) the organisation of the cross-sector partnership, (2) the structure of the intervention programme, (3) key components and activities of the programme and, (4) describes the intervention setting and target population. More Together aims to create new ways to develop, implement and evaluate loneliness interventions. Lessons that are directly supported by the project hold the potential to transform our understanding of loneliness interventions and may inform and guide future community-based interventions. Key messages • ‘More Together’ aims to reduce loneliness in Silkeborg Municipality, Denmark through a large-scale, multi-component and practice-driven intervention. • The project has the potential to inform and guide future community-based interventions for loneliness and improve social health in the community.