Who's Left Out? Summit Seeks Ways Out of Isolation

Loneliness has many faces: It affects older people who have lost a partner, young adults who can’t seem to fit in, and children who lack friendships. And it isn’t always obvious at first glance. In Saxony, there are already numerous programs designed to combat loneliness. But by no means do all those who need support actually find their way to them. The first Erzgebirge Loneliness Summit in Oelsnitz aims to show how this can be changed.

“I think each of us has felt this way at some point,” says Simone Lang, an SPD member of the state parliament, who initiated the summit together with AWO Erzgebirge and the city of Oelsnitz. Loneliness is one of the “most unpleasant feelings” a person can experience. Along with fear, grief, and anger, it is one of the emotions that weigh particularly heavily on people.

The summit’s motto is “Together Against Loneliness—Facilitating Connections, Strengthening Cohesion.” The goal is to discuss what kind of support people need and how social connections can be fostered. However, the focus is not solely on creating new programs. Rather, existing initiatives must be better networked with one another, and support services must be made more easily accessible. This is because people who feel lonely do not necessarily find their way to a community center or counseling center on their own, it was noted. 

Existing services must reach people

Saxony’s Minister of Social Affairs, Petra Köpping (SPD), will also be attending the first Erzgebirge Loneliness Summit in Oelsnitz. She views combating loneliness as a shared responsibility of the state and society. “Saxony already has a wide range of services and dedicated organizations that facilitate social interaction and counteract loneliness,” she says. It is crucial that these services are well-known and reach the people.

Existing support services include, among others, neighborhood assistance programs and self-help groups, as well as community centers that promote social contact.

Not every social problem can be solved with a new funding program, Köpping emphasizes. What matters is strengthening existing structures, connecting people with one another, and supporting local initiatives. Local communities know best what they need and which programs work.

At the same time, loneliness must be de-stigmatized. The goal is to better understand its causes and create opportunities to forge social connections and enable social participation, says Köpping. Prevention begins where people meet: in the neighborhood, in volunteer work, in clubs, and in social settings.

When the distance to social interaction is too great

According to the Saxon Ministry of Social Affairs, loneliness also depends on local conditions. Longer distances, limited transportation options, and, in some cases, poor access to counseling, social gathering, and recreational opportunities can make social contact difficult.

“Mobility is a key indicator for or against social isolation in rural areas,” says Alexander Ladwig, executive director of AWO Erzgebirge. “That’s why the number of available services isn’t enough as a benchmark: We also have to ask who can access, use, and help shape them—and who is left out.”

At the same time, the Ministry of Social Affairs states that the Ore Mountains region possesses key prerequisites for combating loneliness. These include close-knit neighborhoods, a vibrant community life, and diverse volunteer activities. Local governments are familiar with local needs and know where services are lacking. The Free State’s role is to create favorable conditions and strengthen existing structures.

Loneliness Affects Different Generations

Loneliness is often associated with older people who live alone or have lost a partner. However, the AWO Erzgebirge observes loneliness in many stages of life. It can occur as early as kindergarten age, for example when children lack contact with peers and friendships, says Ladwig. Among older people, factors such as the absence of a partner and family ties play a role. At the same time, the AWO also observes loneliness among young adults between the ages of 20 and 30.

Loneliness does not necessarily mean being alone. “You can also be alone even when you’re in a group,” says Ladwig. What matters, she explains, is whether people experience meaningful relationships and feel seen, accepted, and needed. In everyday life, loneliness often manifests itself in people withdrawing, participating less in life, or losing trust in themselves and others.

A catalyst for further collaboration

According to the AWO Erzgebirge, the summit is intended to initiate a binding collaboration that takes into account all generations and different life situations. “Together with those affected, we want to identify which people have not been reached sufficiently so far and what social or infrastructural barriers exist. This should lead to concrete projects with clear responsibilities,” says the welfare organization.

For Simone Lang, too, the summit is above all a starting point. She hopes the initiative will have an impact beyond the Erzgebirge region. “I hope it has such a broad impact that many people will come together and say, ‘We’ll do this, too,’” says Lang.