Together against loneliness: Belongs to a discussion group in Brandenburg!

Together against loneliness: Belongs to a discussion group in Brandenburg!

A new project in Brandenburg an der Havel could bring a fresh breeze for those who suffer from loneliness. As the City of Brandenburg reports on June 26, a discussion group starts with the feeling of loneliness. In a total of ten meetings that take place every two weeks, the participants should not only be heard, but also actively shape the content of the meetings.

This initiative is supported by Akademie 2. Life, whose new director Tanja Wichert plans to expand the offer of the house of encounter at Jacobstrasse 12. In addition to the discussion group, there are also a weekly breakfast club and a variety of courses on offer, including English, line dance and memory training. Particularly noteworthy is the new course for the Feldenkrais method, which will be headed by Ilse Promnitz from July.

common responsibility against loneliness

As social planner Natalie Wateau emphasizes, combating loneliness is a task for society as a whole. The discussion group is dedicated to topics such as the causes and the handling of loneliness. It is also important to speak confidentiality and a trusting atmosphere that should enable the participants to speak openly about their feelings. The first three appointments will give impulses, then the group will select the topics themselves.

The problem of loneliness does not only affect individuals, but also has dimensions of society as a whole. According to current studies, around 8 million people in Germany are affected, which is about 10% of the population. Younger adults and older people are particularly vulnerable, with loneliness in certain age groups even over 15%. This social isolation can have serious consequences for mental and physical health, as an investigation shows that lonely has up to 32% higher risk of dying, compared to socially integrated people. Social isolation is according to the knowledge of the even more harmful than smoking Alcohol consumption.

A wide range of offers to promote cooperation

In order to effectively combat loneliness, creative solutions are also required. Tanja Wichter plans to open the house for various events, even in the evening and on weekends to offer more people the opportunity to network. In addition to the breakfast club, a summer exhibition by the graphic artist Clark Yao and a number of creative offers such as a book club, a theater group and other dialogue formats are planned. Interested parties are invited to bring their knowledge and skills into the offers in order to further strengthen the sense of community.

Awareness of the topic of loneliness and the associated challenges grows. In recent years, loneliness has increased particularly during the Covid 19 pandemic, which underlines the need for measures to strengthen social networks.

The project in Brandenburg is therefore an important step to counteract loneliness and to promote cooperation in society. Whether through the discussion group or the numerous other offers - a good hand is shown here to give people a voice and to experience community.