Brigitte Schmerder: Village pastor fights against loneliness!

Brigitte Schmerder: Village pastor fights against loneliness!

In the practical world of telephone counseling, there are special people who build bridges to the lonely. An outstanding example is Brigitte Schmerder, who at 85 is the oldest volunteer telephone counselor at Diakonie Bautzen. She offers support around the clock and has even received further training in the digital area in order to document the conversations professionally. Concerns such as loneliness, family problems and the consequences of the Ukraine war are among the most common topics Schmerder hears on her night shifts from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

The deputy head of telephone counseling, Marlen Rehor, describes Schmerder as a seemingly “man of hearts” whose commitment is a ray of hope for many. Schmerder is not only knowledgeable in the matter, but also pushes her emotional limits, as some fates particularly affect her. This shows how important this type of volunteer work is. More and more people are dependent on support, and the numbers speak for themselves: loudly Telephone counseling In 2023, one in five calls was affected by loneliness.

Loneliness in focus

The problem of loneliness is becoming increasingly socially relevant. A study by the Federal Institute for Population Research from the summer of 2024 says that almost a third of 18 to 53 year olds are occasionally lonely. This loneliness not only has emotional consequences, but also health consequences, which can put a lot of strain on the individual. This is where telephone counseling comes in. It not only provides a listening voice, but also important emotional feedback in crisis situations.

As part of its work, the telephone counseling service has over 7,700 volunteers who support people in acute crises. Help is provided via various channels: telephone, email and chat counseling. Even if the advice is anonymous, around the clock and free of charge, telephone counseling cannot solve the fundamental problem of loneliness. Nevertheless, it helps many people not feel alone in their darkest hours.

Valuable volunteer work

Commitment like Brigitte Schmerder's is essential. The use of volunteers promotes empathy and mindfulness, which ensure positive human interaction. According to the EKMD Telephone counseling forms a valuable part of the social structure that deals with this sensitive topic. And in the future it will continue to be important to raise awareness of loneliness and how to remedy it.

The data is alarming, but the commitment of people like Brigitte Schmerder gives hope. It shows that everyone can make a difference and that we should support each other to lighten the burden of loneliness. Together we are strong – and that is especially true in difficult times.