Week Three of Initiative Led by Prien Targets Isolation - Campaign Continues: Prien's Third Week of Combating Solitude
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Amid rising rates of loneliness in Germany, with 58% of individuals across all age groups reporting feelings of isolation, Karin Prien, a political figure, has launched the third Action Week Against Loneliness. This initiative serves as a continuation and expansion of the federal government's ongoing strategy to tackle loneliness as a pressing societal concern.
Younger generations have been significantly impacted by feelings of loneliness, making it imperative to address this issue proactively. The previous federal government had initiated a strategy to combat loneliness, a strategy that Prien aims to carry forward.
Kicking off on Sunday, the Action Week Against Loneliness is a focused campaign primarily aimed at raising awareness, stimulating societal involvement, and implementing concrete projects designed to alleviate feelings of isolation.
Since 2018, the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth has been actively combating loneliness, with a particular emphasis on older adults. The ministry has funded several projects to tackle loneliness, such as the European Social Fund (ESF) Plus programme, which runs until 2027, and supports over 70 projects intended to counter loneliness and social isolation.
In late 2021, the Kompetenznetz Einsamkeit (KNE, Loneliness Network Germany) was established, focusing on addressing loneliness across all age groups and promoting research, knowledge exchange, and preventive measures. Furthermore, in 2023, the Ministry, together with the Loneliness Network, developed and adopted a comprehensive Strategy to counter loneliness, complete with 111 measures aimed at fostering social connectedness and interaction to prevent and alleviate feelings of isolation.
Prien's Action Week Against Loneliness exemplifies the practical and public-facing component of the federal strategy. By translating extensive policy frameworks and scientific research into community engagement and targeted interventions, the Action Week serves as a tangible manifestation of the broader government efforts to reduce loneliness and promote social cohesion across generations in Germany.
The Action Week continues the federal government's multi-year approach, which has evolved from isolated projects to a cohesive strategy incorporating over a hundred action points. By positioning loneliness as a multi-generational and societal issue, the initiatives under Prien align with the federal Ministry's objectives of prevention, strengthening social ties, and improving mental health. The ongoing funding and institutional support provide a stable foundation for the Action Week’s activities.
In sum, Karin Prien's Action Week Against Loneliness serves as an extension of the German federal government's comprehensive and evolving strategy to combat loneliness, building on projects and research initiated since 2018 and formalized in a nationwide strategy adopted in 2023. It functions both as a public awareness and intervention campaign embedded within broader government efforts to reduce loneliness and promote social cohesion across all generations in Germany.
- To further supplement the federal government's strategy against loneliness, Karin Prien's Action Week Against Loneliness introduces employment policies that focus on health-and-wellness and mental-health initiatives within the community, creating a more supportive environment for those affected by loneliness.
- As part of the ongoing strategy to combat loneliness, the federal government advocates for the implementation of science-based community policies that promote social connections, mental health, and overall well-being, thereby addressing the issue of loneliness in a comprehensive and evidence-driven manner.
