About 10,000 Amstelveners are lonely. However, these people are not easy to spot. Someone who feels lonely is in many cases afraid to express these feelings. Fifteen Amstelveen organizations are therefore joining forces in ‘Better Together’. Within this organization, institutions collect and share advice and expertise in the field of loneliness and connection.
If you delve into loneliness, you will soon realize that this is not about that old grandmother who sits behind the begonias every day. “Alone is not always lonely,” says Caron Honold, district coach in Keizer Karelpark. According to research, loneliness is ten times more common in people under 65 than over this age.
Cycling around
Honold, who works for the welfare organization Participe, believes it is important, together with fourteen other Amstelveen organisations, to ensure that experiences and knowledge about loneliness are shared. “It is important that we know what is meant by loneliness. And also how we can deal with loneliness. Cycling together or eating soup outside the door is not always the right medicine.”
National loneliness expert Jeanette Rijks also emphasizes this. “Of course it can be fun to take someone to the beach. But if you think it will solve even an ounce of loneliness, no…”
‘Lonely people lose their social antennae’
Caron Honold, Wijkcoach Particpe
Rijks says that after about nine months of loneliness, a change occurs within the brain. This change leads to different behavior. This often also involves less human-friendly behaviour. Hugs and other physical contact will then be opposed, for example. Honold: “People then lose their social antennae.” Honald therefore believes that loneliness should be recognized as soon as possible. Precisely because prolonged loneliness leads to anti-social behaviour.
Loneliness source other problems
Knowledge is needed to help people with long-term loneliness. For example, this knowledge must now be shared within all organizations that are affiliated with ‘Better Together’. “You can’t fight loneliness alone. Loneliness is often the source of many other problems. That is why it is necessary for organizations to find and strengthen each other,” say the affiliated organisations. “We need eachother. It’s about connecting, trusting and working together. Exactly what loneliness is all about.”
Meer informatie over 'Better Together'