In the midst of the recent updates on COVID-19, HealthUnlocked has created a new online health community to provide peer support to people who will be self-isolating in the next few months. HealthUnlocked, the world’s largest social network for health, currently brings together 1.2 million people, across 300+ health conditions within 600 online communities. The Positive Wellbeing During Self-Isolation community will be a space for people to connect with others and find companionship during these times of uncertainty across the globe – especially for more vulnerable senior members of society who require shielding from COVID-19.
It is important that people who are in self-isolation focus on their mental and physical health, while we focus on fighting this global pandemic together. The community will allow individuals to share their tips, advice, and experiences on how to keep healthy. By helping people tackle social isolation, we also aim to relieve the healthcare system. Our aim is that this online support will complement the condition-specific advice members get from their other communities on HealthUnlocked, as well as their physicians. The community is not there to provide updated medical advice, but to ensure the shielded get the support they need while in isolation, and to protect them from the consequences that may arise from being detached from society. The community already has over 1,000 new members – many of whom are over 65 years old. One member wrote, “If anyone needs advice about how you can cope with being at home a lot or alone, I might be able to advise about strategies etc”
HealthUnlocked are also working closely with a network of 500+ Patient Advocacy Groups to provide support to members in condition-specific communities. A significant part of that support is referring people to validated sources like the NHS and the World Health Organisation. Jorge Armanet, CEO and Founder at HealthUnlocked said: “At HealthUnlocked we are not only in a unique position to help the healthcare system in these challenging times, but it is also our duty and great privilege to do so. Our focus will remain on what we know best, helping people to tackle social isolation so we can relieve the healthcare system support burden.”
About HealthUnlocked
● HealthUnlocked is the world’s largest online support network with 1.2 million members across the globe and growing.
● The social network allows users to join moderated online health communities where people with the same health conditions can share experiences and access trusted health information, curated by patient advocacy groups.
● HealthUnlocked provides 600 online health and wellbeing communities, across more than 250 different health conditions.
● HealthUnlocked can be accessed both on the web and as an iOS mobile application.