Medical condition or well-being. - Meeting explores options for overcoming solitude: "Taking action"
The battle against loneliness has taken center stage in many countries' political landscapes. Recent research highlights international examples and suggests actionable steps for developing a loneliness policy in Germany. The recommendations will be discussed at a loneliness conference to be held in the Düsseldorf State Chancellery on Thursday.
The complex nature of the issue shouldn't hinder progress, the paper suggests. Instead, various pilot projects should be initiated to help understand and address loneliness. Produced by the Bertelsmann Foundation, the Liz Mohn Foundation, and the North Rhine-Westphalia state government, the proposals advocate for starting small and learning as you go.
The Netherlands and the United Kingdom were among the first nations to implement national strategies to combat loneliness before the Covid-19 pandemic. Japan, Australia, and New Zealand soon followed suit. North Rhine-Westphalia is set to reveal an action plan against loneliness later this year. From June 17th to 23rd, the "Together out of Loneliness" campaign aims to boost awareness about the issue. According to a recent survey by Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens), single parents, senior citizens, and immigrants are affected by loneliness more frequently. Loneliness allegedly affects millions of individuals in Germany, Paus reported.
The authors of the paper assert that the issue of loneliness should be institutionalized to remain relevant despite evolving political landscapes and leadership changes. Other countries such as Britain and Japan have set up specific ministerial positions to address the issue. Great Britain has spearheaded the fight against loneliness, launching a social media campaign featuring popular influencers who call attention to loneliness and encourage investment in social relationships among young people.
In Japan, the significant number of suicides among children and adolescents has prompted policymakers to focus on loneliness. The "Anata no Ibasho" organization, founded in 2020, boasts around 1,000 volunteers and counselors and provides them with a 24/7 digital consultation room for young people to seek assistance through phone or chat. The need for the service has grown exponentially.
The Netherlands kick-started a national loneliness program in 2014, spearheading this domain. There, a national coalition against loneliness should be established, while early indicators of loneliness can be detected via neighborhood teams, campaigns, and help lines. Municipalities are tasked with devising their own local strategies. The "Join Us" project, aimed at young people, trains volunteers to create their own social networks and understand that they are not alone in their feelings of loneliness.
