Lule, Sweden, has a simple plan to solve the loneliness epidemic

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They’re trying to break the ice in chilly Scandinavia.

A city in northern Sweden where the sun barely shines all winter long has come up with a simple way of connecting lonely residents — by asking everyone to say “hello” to each other, the Guardian reported.

The idea comes as the planet grapples with post-pandemic loneliness, to a degree that the World Health Organization described the issue as as a “pressing health threat.”

“Loneliness and isolation are huge problems any time of the year almost anywhere in the world right now,” Micael Dahlen, a professor in wellbeing, welfare and happiness at Stockholm School of Economics told the outlet.

“It comes with the time we live in, the lifestyles we have, where we don’t necessarily come across each other to the same extent as we used to. This accelerates in winter time when we’re outdoors less, social less,” he added, saying that Sweden is especially susceptible.

Isolation is also much more culturally acceptable in the land of alternative meatballs. For instance, houseguests generally do not expect to eat with their hosts.

In the city of Luleå, where officials are trying to have residents spread cheer with a warm hello, the sun starts to set in the early afternoon and casts the region in a great deal of darkness for much of the day — something tied to seasonal affective disorder.

It is there that almost half of young people aged 16-29 were having problems tied into loneliness, according to research cited by The Guardian.

“Before Covid it was 50-50: some people said hi to each other. But after Covid people have become more scared to have contact with strangers,” 25 year-old resident Seyed Mohsen Hashemi said.

This new campaign aims to change that for good. The concept in Luleå is simple, just offer a warm greeting to your peers on the street with a “hej,” — the Swedish term for “hello” that Ikea patrons will already be familiar with.

“One hej can change a day for somebody,” Hashemi admits.

The “Säg hej!” (say hello) mission was incepted by Åsa Koski, who works for the city — one that’s experiencing sudden growth due to job availability. The catchy phrase is advertised on buses and schools are even hosting workshops on friendly greetings.

“We don’t just want that Luleå is going to grow as a city; we want Luleå to be a pleasant and safe and friendly city as well where there’s culture, leisure activities, sport,” Koski said. She added that friendly interactions with those you don’t know makes you feel “more seen and a bit more like you belong.”

“Research shows that it has an effect on health and often an effect on wanting to help each other. If you say hi to your neighbors you are more likely to help them.”

Though, it might take some time for locals to warm up, says Mee Young Yim, 62, who previously lived in the United States. She insists Luleå is “mostly friendly,” it’s just not initially shown.

“Everyone’s a bit reserved, but if you ask then people will help you,” Yim said.

“But here, especially the old, you say hi, and they just looked at me at first. But it has changed a lot as well, because we have more people from abroad.”

Those native to the nation also support what “Säg hej!” could introduce a new way.

“It’s a really good thing that people say hi to each other,” said resident Pontus Wikström, 61. “It means people who meet each other, don’t know each other, become a little happier.”

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