Navigating the social identity of long covid

Long covid is an urgent global public health problem. In the UK alone, experiencing it for a year or more is estimated to affect 405 000 people, with higher prevalence in deprived groups.1 Medical research into the pathophysiology of long covid, and how it can be treated is urgently needed, but it is also essential to consider social factors that may be implicated in the recovery of the millions of people with long covid across the world. It is not possible to holistically understand any individual’s experiences, without understanding their connection and place within the broader community around them. Research shows that social connections and belonging are essential determinants of health and wellbein