Being an expat can be lonely at the best of times. At the worst of times, it can become insurmountable.
In many people's perception, being an expat is a symbol of something exotic, exciting, and maybe even glamorous. As an expat, you get the chance to experience a new culture, meet new people, and make money while doing it.
But leaving your home country to work in eg Denmark – in some cases after having traveled far and maybe across continents – implies that you are by definition a long way from home. Away from your everyday life, family and friends, and everything "normal".
Studies show that the kind of loneliness experienced by expats is a particular kind of loneliness linked to not belonging in the most proximal group. Over time this state of loneliness can develop into more debilitating conditions such as acute sadness, hopelessness and in some cases anxiety and depression.
It would be of preventive value for the organizations employing expats, to be mindful of the possible loneliness that expats can experience. In my work with individuals and businesses alike, it is clear that daily psychological safety in the workplace is an area which greatly impacts general mental health. Therefore, it is of high relevance to consider the effect on individuals when the social landscape of work becomes the only social landscape in which to create human connections.