Federal Government Launches Awareness Campaign: Emphasis on Highlighting the Prevalence of Loneliness - German Administration Seeks to Highlight Solitude Issues
Loneliness Action Week Commences: Federal Government Promotes Community Interaction in Germany
The third Loneliness Action Week begins in Germany, with the theme "Playing Together" emphasizing the importance of shared play and social activities as means to combat loneliness, particularly among vulnerable groups like children and youth.
Minister Karin Prien announced the initiative, explaining, "Loneliness is a matter of social health. Having people to engage with and places to meet are essential for well-being." The Family Ministry will highlight possible "low-threshold offers for exchange and encounter in the community," encouraging clubs, initiatives, and projects to participate.
Statistics from TK health insurance reveal that younger people in Germany are disproportionately affected by loneliness. A report showed that 68% of those aged 18-39 often or sometimes experience loneliness, while overall, 58% of people across all age groups report feeling lonely. These sentiments frequently lead to depression.
The German Federal Government has been proactive in addressing loneliness as a societal challenge, with a strategy incorporating over 130 measures to systematically tackle loneliness in the country. This approach includes public awareness initiatives and community projects that encourage connection and reduce isolation.
Specifically for children and young people at risk, the week offers low-threshold, inclusive initiatives such as those found in multi-generational centers. These centers foster social bonding by providing spaces where young and old engage in diverse activities together.
Projects like "Fit und verbunden gegen Einsamkeit" ("Fit and connected against loneliness”)—initiated by the German Olympic Sports Confederation and funded with the Federal Ministry of Health—are designed to prevent and alleviate loneliness, particularly targeting groups with a migration background, often including young people at risk.
Minister Prien will open the conference "Together Against Loneliness" in Berlin, co-hosted by the Ministry and the Competence Network for Loneliness, to discussed further strategies on tackling loneliness in Germany.
The Commission, Council, and European Parliament have been urged to support Germany's Loneliness Action Week, aiming to combat isolation, particularly among children and young adults. The theme "Playing Together" advocates shared activities as a means to promote mental health and well-being within society.
The European Parliament and Health-and-Wellness sector were encouraged to collaborate in funding and implementing initiatives, like "Fit und verbunden gegen Einsamkeit," which aims to reduce loneliness among vulnerable groups, including young people at risk and those with a migration background.
