About the movement
More than 85 organisations, associations, schools, municipalities, and businesses have come together for the first time ever to create the People's Movement Against Loneliness. We all agree that loneliness is a problem we need to address. Each of us contributes in our own way – and together through the movement.
We want to talk about loneliness so that it is no longer a taboo, and we want to help people connect to break the cycle of loneliness. Our vision is that no one in Denmark should suffer from severe loneliness, and we hope that as many people as possible will make an extra effort to help.
Whether you are part of an association, a company, or just yourself, you can help talk about loneliness and break the stigma. You can reach out and invite others into a community. It doesn’t take much to help another person, and if we all show consideration for others and make a small effort in our daily lives, we can make a big difference together.
Loneliness is rarely about where we live but rather the environment around us. The natural communities we once had are slowly disappearing in housing associations. That’s why we need to maintain and improve everyday meeting places, such as the communal laundry, to create a safe and conversation-friendly space where neighbourly connections can flourish.
Tanja Christabel, Head of Sustainability at Nortec
About loneliness
Many of us probably know someone who often feels lonely. Unfortunately, loneliness is a taboo subject, which is only reinforced by the fact that people do not share it with others.
Loneliness is a feeling that can arise in different life situations, with varying intensity and duration. You can feel lonely both when you are alone and when you are with others—regardless of age.
The consequences are severe
Short-term loneliness is not dangerous. It is the body's signal that we need to seek contact. But when loneliness takes hold and becomes long-term, it can have serious consequences and turn into a vicious cycle. Loneliness becomes dangerous when it limits a person—when behaviour changes or it becomes harder to be around others because one feels they have nothing to offer.
Loneliness not only diminishes quality of life but can also be directly harmful to health.
Something can be done
Fortunately, loneliness can be prevented and fought. That is why nearly 90 organisations have joined forces in the People's Movement Against Loneliness. At the same time, each of us can also take action to combat loneliness.
If you feel lonely yourself, start by saying it out loud—preferably to someone else. It takes courage to open up, but it is easier to address problems when you do so with others.
If you want to help others struggling with loneliness, start today by talking about what you now know.
Make an effort to notice the people around you so they do not feel invisible. Open up your communities by inviting a colleague to lunch or offering your neighbour a cup of coffee. You can also volunteer in the many initiatives you can find on this site.
The numbers on loneliness
- In Denmark, approximately 470,000 adults suffer from severe loneliness.
- 30,000 children aged 11-15 often or very often feel alone.
- The Danish Health Authority has estimated that people who frequently feel unwanted and alone account for nearly 450,000 additional visits to general practitioners each year, partly or entirely due to loneliness. This amounts to more than 1,000 extra doctor visits every single day.
- Loneliness is a public health issue that causes distress, illness, and premature death.
- Each year, loneliness costs society over DKK 7 billion in care, treatment, and lost productivity.
Source: modensomhed.dk (2025)
Members
- Aarhus Kommune (Sundhed og Omsorg)
- Aktivitet og Udvikling, Viborg Kommune
- Albertslund Kommune
- Alkohol & Samfund
- Alzheimerforeningen
- Ballerup Kommune
- Billund Kommune
- BL – Danmarks Almene Boliger
- Boblberg
- Boligselskabet Tranemosegård
- Bornholms Regionskommune
- Brøndby Kommune
- byStudents/Studenterhuset
- Børns Voksenvenner
- Caritas Danmark
- Center for Frivilligt Socialt Arbejde
- Center for Mental Sundhed, Odense
- Center for Sund Aldring KU
- Danmarks Biblioteksforening
- Dansk Ungdoms Fællesråd (DUF)
- Danske Døves Landsforbund
- Danske Handicaporganisationer
- Danske Ældreråd
- Det Sociale Netværk
- DGI
- DRYS IND
- DøvBlinde Danmark
- Eden Denmark
- Favrskov Kommune
- FOA
- Fonden Ensomme Gamles Værn
- Fonden for Socialt Ansvar
- Forum For Mænds Sundhed
- Forælder Fonden
- Fredensborg Kommune
- Fredericia Kommune
- Friskolerne – og Friskolernes Hus
- Frivilligcentre & Selvhjælp Danmark (FriSe)
- Frivilligrådet
- Guldborgsund Kommune (Sundhed og Omsorg)
- Haderslev Kommune
- Halsnæs Kommune
- headspace*
- Hedensted Kommune
- Helsingør Stift
- Herning Kommune
- Historiefortæller, Jens Peter Madsen
- Høje Taastrup Kommune
- Høreforeningen
- Jysk Børneforsorg/Fredehjem
- Jyske Bank
- KFUM’s Sociale Arbejde
- Kirkernes Integrations Tjeneste (KIT)
- Kirkens Korshær
- Kolding Kommune
- Københavns Kommune (Sundhed og Omsorg)
- Københavns Stift
- Køge Kommune
- LEV
- Lyngby-Taarbæk Kommune
- Læseforeningen
- Marselisborg
- Mary Fonden
- Mental Talk
- Mentorbarn
- Morsø Kommune
- Nortec
- Nyborg Kommune
- Odsherred Kommune
- Plushusene
- PolioForeningen
- Roskilde Kommune
- Roskilde Stifts Diakoniudvalg
- Røde Kors
- Rødovre Kommune
- Scleroseforeningen
- Silkeborg Kommune
- SIND – Landsforeningen for psykisk sundhed
- Skanderborg Kommune
- Social Minds/Jigidi
- Solrød Kommune
- SquareMeter/The Mark
- Startlinjen
- UlykkesPatientForeningen
- Under Solen festival
- Varde Kommune
- Vejen Kommune
- Vejle Kommune
- Vensomhed
- Ventilen
- Verdens Kvinder i Danmark (Besøg på Modersmål)
- WeShelter
- Ældre Sagen
- Aarhus Kommune (Sundhed og Omsorg)