Alone Together

According to the UKrant, three out of four students at the University of Groningen are lonely. But loneliness is as common as it is misunderstood. What exactly is loneliness? What role does it play in depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts? And how should we talk about loneliness?

During this evening we will hear different perspectives on the matter. Cultural psychologist Luzia Heu (UU) explains what loneliness is and what it is not, whether it has increased, and how loneliness can differ across societies and cultures. Psychiatrist Hanna van Loo (UMCG) shares how loneliness is connected to psychiatric disorders, and vice versa. Feeling lonely can lead to unhappiness, depression or even suicidal thoughts. Youth researcher scientist Diana van Bergen (RUG) will emphasize why it’s so important to talk about suicidal thoughts. How do we connect with one another? What are the things that stand in our way?

Hanna van Loo is psychiatrist and Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychiatry at the University Medical Center Groningen. Her research focuses on the origins of depression and anxiety disorders including loneliness and their intergenerational transmission.

Luzia Heu studies cross-cultural similarities and differences in loneliness, the origins of chronic loneliness, and experiences of not fitting in with social norms and loneliness. She also communicates her insights through videos on Loneliness Across Cultures, in blog posts (e.g., on Psychology Today), and a podcast (in development).

Diana van Bergen holds the chair “Understanding and Preventing Suicide and Suicidality among Youth”. She is interested in elaborating our socio-psychological understanding of  suicide and suicide related behaviors of young people, particularly socially vulnerable youth, and establishing effective suicide interventions for these groups.

Carien van der Velde will host the evening.

Kim Setkowski will also be present to answer personal questions. She is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Groningen, and a psychologist at 113 Suicide Prevention. She treats people with suicidal thoughts and behaviors on a weekly basis. Her current research focuses on understanding suicide and suicide-related behaviors among vulnerable youth (i.e., foster children) and developing appropriate interventions for this group.

In collaboration with theatre association A-Way Productions, who will present their new theatre production Beautiful Mess, inspired by Sally Rooney's Normal People, in June. If you order a ticket for Alone Together, you'll receive a voucher code for a two euro discount per ticket for Beautiful Mess.