Description
We are a group of academics, activists, and UN agency staff currently conducting a series of activities in the area of social connection for health and well-being. One of these activities is a research priority-setting exercise to establish Grand Challenges in Social Connection. This is a joint initiative between the Department of Social Determinants of Health at the World Health Organization and the Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection International Scientific Board.Decades of scientific evidence document the importance of social connection for wellbeing, and physical and mental health. However, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted notable gaps in the knowledge and evidence base, especially in applying scientific evidence to alleviate human suffering and efforts to mobilize in crises. Priority setting helps identify gaps in research and evidence, policies, advocacy activities, and resources, ensuring efforts make the best use of limited resources and assists stakeholders with planning, resource mobilization, and allocation. As such, through a global priority-setting exercise, we aim to identify research, policy, advocacy, and funding priorities for improving people's health, well-being, safety, and prosperity worldwide through social connection. Similar to other global grand challenges exercises (https://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/organization/cgmhr/grandchallenges), we will be focusing on setting priorities for social connection.
For this study, we are conducting a Delphi exercise – a structured technique that uses controlled feedback to arrive at a consensus across a diverse group of experts. We are looking for researchers, policy makers, advocates, practitioners, funders, industry professionals, religious leaders and others working in the field of social connection to participate. Participation involved two online consultations, and completion of two online surveys during June 2024 and the production of a technical report and paper.
| Period | 1 Jun 2024 |
|---|---|
| Work for | World Health Organisation, Switzerland |
| Degree of Recognition | International |