Nationwide campaign week on the topic of "loneliness"
First District Councillor and Head of Health Karl-Friedrich Frese draws attention to a campaign week on a very special topic. From 17 - 23 June 2024, attention will be drawn nationwide to a strategy launched by the federal government in 2023 under the motto "Together out of loneliness". "The aim of the campaign week is to raise public awareness of the topic and present the support services that are also available here in Waldeck-Frankenberg," explains Frese.
Loneliness can certainly be seen as a challenge for society as a whole, a widespread phenomenon that can affect all age groups. The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the problem, and young people have also been increasingly affected since then. Prolonged loneliness has an enormous impact on well-being and health, increasing the risk of developing dementia or cardiovascular problems in the long term, for example.
Even life expectancy can be reduced. In the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg, support is offered not only by the self-help contact centre with various self-help groups, the multi-generation house in Bad Wildungen as a meeting place or the community carers who try to prevent loneliness among older people living alone. Above all, the social psychiatric service, which is part of the district's specialised health service, also offers valuable support.
The social psychiatric service is aimed at adults in Waldeck-Frankenberg with mental and social problems, including loneliness, as well as their relatives and social environment. The service is based on the Hessian law on assistance with mental illness. Anyone who is not sure that they or a relative belong to the target group, but only suspects this, can also make use of the service.
Anyone who is affected by loneliness themselves and would like to find out about services or who is committed and offers support for others is welcome to contact the specialist health service, and not just during the campaign week. The social psychiatric service can be contacted by telephone on 05631 954-5808 or by e-mail at spdi@lkwafkb.de. The self-help contact centre has the contact details e-mail shk@lkwafkb.de or telephone number 05631 954-1888, the public health department has the e-mail address katharina.wilke@lkwafkb.de or telephone number 05631 954-1489.
Caption
Provides support and assistance with a wide range of problems, not just on the subject of "loneliness" - the team from the social psychiatric service of the Waldeck-Frankenberg district health department. Photo: District of Waldeck-Frankenberg
Information on the social psychiatric service
The interdisciplinary team of the social psychiatric service currently consists of a medical director, six social workers, three nurses, a psychiatric coordinator and an administrator. Its counselling and support services are available on a low-threshold basis to anyone who is confronted with problems that they can no longer cope with on their own. These problems may be characterised by
- Drive disorders,
- Distrust,
- Loss of social connections,
- Impairments in the ability to work and earn a living,
- lack of reference to reality,
- Communication disorders,
- Neglect of housing and household management as well as personal hygiene,
- Hoarding tendencies,
- (Repeated) inpatient stays.
The provision of local, targeted and individualised help and support is also part of the assistance provided by the social psychiatric service. The aim is to facilitate access to these services and to be able to utilise them as early as possible. This enables illnesses and/or disabilities to be recognised and (medically) treated in good time. However, therapeutic or medical treatment and legal advice are not possible.
A special geriatric psychiatry service is provided for older people, as they often suffer from more than just physical ailments or mental health problems as a symptom of old age. In many cases, there are also special living conditions that often make diagnosis and treatment more difficult. Older people are often afraid of having to leave their familiar surroundings, the living space they have used for many decades, whether due to illness or financial worries and problems. The social psychiatric service works with those affected to find solutions to help them stay in their familiar surroundings.
Opportunities to utilise the services of the social psychiatric service for themselves or others:
- People seeking counselling can make an appointment by calling 05631 954-5808 or sending an email to spdi@lkwafkb.de. This can take place at home, at the specialised health service or by telephone.
- People who are worried about relatives, friends or neighbours can also contact the Social Psychiatric Service. The staff will then send a counselling offer to the person concerned.
- The counselling service is voluntary. The employees are bound to confidentiality. Anonymous counselling is also possible.
- In addition, there is the possibility of professional counselling for institutions, facilities and service providers who are confronted with issues relating to mental health.