On 7 May 2026, the Italian LONELY-EU partners held the event “Loneliness as a Social Challenge: From Scientific Research to Intervention Policies” at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan.
The event was promoted by Prof. Patrizia Catellani, LONELY-EU work package leader, and the PsyLab research centre. Policymakers, researchers, and third-sector organisations discussed loneliness as a challenge that spans ages, settings, and regions, and that calls for coordinated and lasting responses.
Judith Merkies, policy lead of LONELY-EU, opened the discussion. She stressed the importance of turning scientific evidence into public policy. Researchers and politicians from local, national, and EU level then shared their views on the causes and consequences of loneliness, on current interventions, and on future policy directions.
In roundtable discussions, local associations and stakeholders reflected on the needs of young people, adults, and older adults. Recurring themes were support for vulnerable groups, reducing the stigma around loneliness, and building connections between generations to strengthen well-being and social cohesion.
The event was also a step towards an Italian network on loneliness. Its aim is to keep these new connections alive and to turn dialogue between research, policy, and practice into concrete social change.
