Early November, a so-called expert hearing on Loneliness and the book presentation “Loneliness in Europe” took place in the European Parliament in Brussels. Loneliness, as a public health crisis, is high on the agenda of the European Commission. Loneliness is a social problem, not just a problem of the lonely individual. The costs of loneliness for society arise partly because lonely people have reduced productivity and higher absenteeism, rely more on already overburdened care and have a greater risk of diseases and disorders. We are talking about costs that run into billions because millions of Europeans feel lonely. Experts from left to right: Beatrice D’Hombres, Pamala Qualter, Maike Luhmann, Judith Merkies and Jill Litt © European Union 2024 – Source : EP But what is that, loneliness? According to De Jong-Gierveld, “Loneliness is the subjective experience of an unpleasant or intolerable lack of (quality of) certain social relationships.” Loneliness occurs […]
Rob Blaauboer
Loneliness is a growing challenge across Europe, impacting individuals of all ages. A recent study reveals that 13% of Europeans feel lonely most of the time, and 35% experience it occasionally. Beyond personal hardship, loneliness strains healthcare systems, leads to lower productivity and shortens life expectancy. Thanks to the efforts of former MEP Judith Merkies and MEP Evelyn Regner, and many others, loneliness is now on the European Union’s agenda. The European Parliament 2020 pilot project led to the first EU-wide loneliness survey. As a result, in 2023, the Horizon program launched a new initiative to explore its socio-economic impacts. The Lonely-EU consortium, headed by Prof. Dr. Maike Luhmann, will begin a three-year project in 2025 to monitor loneliness and develop evidence-based policies to address it at both individual and societal levels. If you are interested in our LONELY-EU project, send us an email at info@lonelinessineurope.eu or reach out to any […]