Initiates Third Action Week Fighting Against Isolation - Initiates Third Week of Campaign Combatting Solitude
Germany is witnessing a high prevalence of loneliness, with a nationwide survey revealing that 58% of people across all age groups experience feelings of isolation. The younger generation appears to be particularly affected. In response, the current administration plans to continue the anti-loneliness strategy initiated by Karin Prien, who holds responsibility within the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth (BMFSFJ).
Prien is actively spearheading initiatives to combat loneliness in Germany. While details about an "Action Week Against Loneliness" led by Prien specifically have not been found, the BMFSFJ has been making significant strides in addressing the issue. For instance, over 70 projects targeting loneliness in older adults are currently funded until 2027 under the European Social Fund - ESF Plus programme. Moreover, since the end of 2021, the Ministry has been supporting the Kompetenznetz Einsamkeit (KNE), a network that expands the focus on loneliness across all age groups and fosters knowledge exchange on prevention and intervention measures.
The broader goal of these initiatives is to counter loneliness and social isolation, with a primary focus on older adults. Working in collaboration with the Loneliness Network, the Ministry developed a comprehensive "Strategy to counter loneliness," aiming to address loneliness as a multi-generational social issue from political and scientific perspectives. The strategy prioritizes preventing and alleviating loneliness by strengthening social connectedness and interaction. It culminated in the adoption of the German Federal Strategy to counter loneliness at the end of 2023, which outlines 111 measures within five objectives designed to promote social participation and reduce feelings of loneliness throughout society.
The Federal Government's anti-loneliness strategy incorporates the initiatives led by Prien and the BMFSFJ. The Ministry's funding and coordination of projects like KNE and the ESF Plus programme indicate a systematic approach to addressing loneliness through both direct interventions and network-building. If the "Action Week Against Loneliness" is part of this larger framework, it likely aligns with the Government’s comprehensive strategy for tackling loneliness in Germany.
In essence, Karin Prien's work on loneliness is a key component of the Federal Ministry's and Federal Government's nationwide strategy to counter loneliness, focusing on fostering social inclusion and reducing loneliness across all age groups. For the most current and precise information, the Federal Ministry's official communications or Karin Prien's announcements would be the best resources to consult.
- The Federal Government's employment policy, as expressed in the anti-loneliness strategy, seeks to address the issue of loneliness in Germany by emphasizing social connectedness and interaction, with a focus on fostering social inclusion and reducing feelings of isolation across all age groups.
- As part of the comprehensive strategy to counter loneliness, Karin Prien, within the Federal Ministry, has been driving initiatives in science and health-and-wellness, including mental health, aiming to develop preventative and intervention measures to address loneliness, particularly in the context of the Action Week Against Loneliness and the Kompetenznetz Einsamkeit (KNE).
