According to its own definition, Caritas has been offering “quick help in moments of loneliness” since April 2020 with the “chat network”, which can be accessed by telephone on 05-1776-100. On the occasion of “Blue Monday” next Monday, which is said to be the saddest day of the year, the Catholic aid organization takes stock on the one hand and calls on the government to make a “pact against loneliness” on the other.
According to Caritas, the increase in inquiries from people in need is a fact. “What is new is how many people are struggling with mental problems and illnesses. With the fourth lockdown, we have seen a significant increase in inquiries in our social counseling centers,” reports Klaus Schwertner, executive director of Caritas for the archdiocese of Vienna. Behind it are lost daily structures, collapsed plans, an uncertain future and loneliness as a trigger.
“Even before the crisis, loneliness was a disease of civilization in western societies,” says Schwertner, reporting an increasing number of calls when the number of infections increases. From the point of view of Caritas, the government should also put the issue of loneliness on its agenda: “So far, only words have followed our call for a ‘pact against loneliness'”. A joint round table in September 2020 in the Federal Chancellery was an important signal, but nothing more.
Caritas supports its claim by pointing to numerous studies that would show that loneliness increases the risk of chronic stress, cardiovascular disease, depression, dementia and early death. In England, where the concept of “social prescribing” is being piloted, in which an interface is created between general practitioners and social work, there is already a reaction. The traffic light coalition in Germany with a national prevention plan against loneliness in the government agreement is cited by the Catholic aid organization as another example.
Caritas reports on the situation in Austria that even before the Corona crisis, around 372,000 people had no one in their environment for personal conversations. After the outbreak of the pandemic, Caritas started the “chatter network” with the Kronen Zeitung and Magenta in the first lockdown. Here, people who don’t have someone to talk to can call 05-1776-100 with volunteers who will listen.
Since the start of the project in April 2020, more than 21,000 discussions have been held. Up to 100 calls are accepted daily between 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. On average, the calls last half an hour. 3,500 people, with an average age in their mid-50s, volunteer throughout Austria for the “Plaudernetz”. As Caritas further reports, most of the callers from all over Austria are over 40 years old. Around a quarter finds their way to the discussion platform through other telephone counseling services such as telephone pastoral care.
(SERVICE – The Plaudernetz can be reached daily from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on 05-1776-100 at the usual local rate throughout Austria. www.plaudernetz.at)