President of the Bundestag: “As politicians, we have to take the issue of loneliness seriously, not just at Christmas”
Created: 2022-12-19 09:57
By: Anne-Christine Merholz
Bundestag President Bärbel Bas knows how hard loneliness can hit people, especially on public holidays.
© imago
Christmas, the celebration of the family.
But what do you do when you have no one to celebrate?
That's what Bundestag President Bärbel Bas advises.
Berlin – After two Christmas celebrations under corona conditions, inflation and energy prices mean that the holidays are again under an ill-omened day.
It will be a lonely day for many people.
That is why Bundestag President Bärbel Bas is focusing on the problem: “As politicians, we have to take the issue of loneliness seriously, and not just at Christmas.
In the coalition agreement, the traffic light parties decided to create a national prevention plan and specific packages of measures, for example on the subject of loneliness, and to focus on overcoming loneliness, especially for older people," says Bas to the
Frankfurter Rundschau of IPPEN.MEDIA
.
How many celebrate Christmas alone?
As a long-time health politician and from many conversations, Bas knows that many people feel particularly lonely on the holidays.
"And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
The full extent of the problem too often remains behind closed doors,” says the President of the Bundestag.
In a society that consists almost half of one-person households, and after two years of pandemic, being alone is a daily companion for many.
According to a study by the EU Commission, feelings of loneliness among EU citizens increased significantly in the early days of the Corona crisis.
Bärbel Bas: “And every year, Christmas comes with the ubiquitous images of happy families.
And we must not forget: people can also feel lonely in the middle of the family celebration.”
What do you do at Christmas without a family?
In addition to politics, Bas also holds the citizens accountable.
It depends “above all on us as family members, friends or neighbors.
Let's listen, let's see!" Sometimes a little attention or a short call is enough.
"And maybe someone still has some free places at the Christmas table - for example for the widowed neighbor or the single acquaintance," says Bas.
What to do against loneliness at Christmas?
And the President of the Bundestag wants to comfort the people who are alone at Christmas.
Bas: "Even if it feels different: You are not alone in your loneliness.
I always prefer face-to-face meetings, but use modern communication via telephone or even video.” And further: “If you like celebrating Christmas, don’t let your loneliness take away from you and don’t go without your Christmas dinner, for example .
You can also make use of offers of help such as the telephone counseling service or Silbernetz, where many committed people also have an open ear at Christmas.
I would like to take this opportunity to expressly thank these people for being there for their fellow human beings, especially on Christmas Day.”