Together against loneliness: This is how we protect our psyche!

Together against loneliness: This is how we protect our psyche!

On October 15, 2025, World Health Day was used as an opportunity to address an urgent issue: loneliness. At a discussion by the Community Psychiatric Association (GPV) in the Neckar-Odenwald district, everything revolved around the guiding theme “Better together than alone”. Among the participants were high-profile representatives of psychiatry and social institutions, including Dr. Karsten Rudolf from the Diakonie-Klinik Mosbach, Susann Oltmanns-Heller from the Diakonisches Werk Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis, Dr. Martina Kirsch from addiction counseling and Felicitas Tumfart from AWO Neckar-Odenwald.

Loneliness is not only a personal feeling, it can also have serious health consequences. So emphasizes Dr. Rudolf the importance of social contacts for mental health. Recently, numerous studies have shown that young people in particular often suffer from loneliness despite their online activities. “Real encounters cannot be replaced by any medium,” he explains. Loneliness not only has underlying psychological effects, but also serious physical effects, for example on the cardiovascular system, as a comprehensive overview of current research shows quoted from the PMC.

Health consequences of loneliness

The health risks associated with loneliness are alarming. While close relationships are crucial to mental health, loneliness poses significant challenges: it can promote depression, social phobia and even cognitive decline. A worrying result can also be seen in the increase in suicidality, as the comprehensive study reports. According to estimates, around 42% of respondents in Germany felt lonely at least sometimes in 2021.

The dangers increase particularly among older people in need of care, who are particularly vulnerable without a family network. “Loneliness is a serious health risk,” emphasizes Dr. Rudolf, pointing out the need for greater social interactions within families, schools and neighborhoods.

Together against loneliness

In order to actively combat loneliness, Oltmanns-Heller appeals to society to become more open to solutions, for example through meeting places or regular exchanges on social networks. The day care center in Buchen, which offers a protected space for social exchange, shows how important a sense of belonging is for mental health.

The discussion about loneliness is of relevance to society as a whole. Dr. Kirsch emphasizes the positive effect of self-help groups and encourages people to seek out social contacts. The more people come together, the greater the chance of reaching lonely hearts and winning the battle against loneliness.

The call for solidarity is clear: it is often small gestures – a phone call or a short visit – that can make a big difference. Because ultimately: Better together than alone.