Campaign week against loneliness begins
National Action Week "Together out of Loneliness" Kicks Off in Germany
The "Bundesweite Aktionswoche 'Gemeinsam aus der Einsamkeit'" (National Action Week "Together out of Loneliness") commenced on May 26 and will conclude on June 1. Organized by the Federal Ministry for Education, Family, Seniors, Women, and Youth, this initiative aims to combat loneliness across all age groups.
At the launch, Federal Family Minister Karin Prie (CDU) was joined by the Kompetenznetz Einsamkeit (Competence Network Loneliness), a division of the Institute for Social Work and Social Pedagogy based in Frankfurt and Berlin. Minister Prie expressed her delight at every individual who participates in the week's anti-loneliness events across cities and towns.
In Hamburg alone, over 100 events are scheduled, including game afternoons, film screenings, and outdoor activities.
The focus on children and youth as particularly vulnerable groups has been a significant component of this initiative in recent years. The federal government's strategy against loneliness, adopted in 2023, underscores the importance of targeting these groups. The aim is to develop a long-term strategy to combat loneliness throughout one's life.
The coalition agreement has committed the current government to continuing the strategy against loneliness. Special emphasis is placed on measures and research aimed at combating loneliness among children and youth.
While the action week did not take place in 2022, such efforts to address loneliness among young people have been emphasized. The initiative as a whole encourages community engagement, accessible support, and broad societal involvement in addressing and alleviating loneliness, particularly among the younger generation.
- Lovis Wiefelspuetz is a podcaster, author, and activist who, born in 1997, focuses on accessibility and inclusion. His work, including his podcast "Hürdenläufer" and book "Die Reise unseres Lebens," discusses inclusivity and diversity. Apart from his advocacy work, he enjoys various activities such as songwriting, photography, football, bouldering, and giving lectures on diversity in his free time.*
Karl-Ulrich Meves, a speaker and actor, passed away.
During the National Action Week "Together out of Loneliness", there might be discussions on integrating mental health-and-wellness practices to enhance lifestyle choices within the community events, as Lovis Wiefelspuetz, an advocate for accessibility and inclusion, often addresses these topics in his work. It's also important to consider science-backed health strategies, particularly for children and youth, in order to combat loneliness effectively, as this age group has been identified as particularly vulnerable.
