María Villa Carpio Fernández, a researcher at the University of Jaén and a member of the PROMOBIENESTAR University Chair, addressed the issue of unwanted loneliness amongst young people during a meeting focusing on support networks and social and health care intervention.
Santiago de Compostela, 15 October 2026. — María Villa Carpio Fernández, from the Department of Psychology at the University of Jaén and a member of the PROMOBIENESTAR University Chair, is participating as a guest speaker on behalf of the Chair at the 9th ‘Unwanted Loneliness’ Think Tank, taking place on 15 and 16 October in Santiago de Compostela, coinciding with the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of IGAXES.
Under the theme ‘Caring Networks: Social and Health Care Intervention in Response to Youth Loneliness’, the event brings together institutional representatives, professionals from the social and academic sectors, social organisations and young people to reflect on the challenges posed by unwanted loneliness and to explore responses through social and health care intervention, human networks and the community.
The lecture ‘Young People and Unwanted Loneliness in Spain’, delivered by María Villa Carpio Fernández, addressed the current situation regarding unwanted loneliness amongst young people, analysing the main risk and protective factors that influence this reality. She also shared the work being carried out by the PROMOBIENESTAR University Chair to help prevent and tackle this issue, and highlighted the PROCORE initiative, which aims to provide emotional support to young people and promote their wellbeing.
The conference formed part of a day of events designed to create opportunities for reflection and discussion on youth loneliness, an issue that requires attention from various sectors and poses significant challenges for institutions, social organisations, the educational community and support networks.
The Think Tank programme also includes panel discussions on the new challenges facing the social sector, as well as working sessions dedicated to the relationship between unwanted loneliness, social media and artificial intelligence; the role of human and community networks; and vulnerability, social determinants and inequalities.
This event coincides with IGAXES’ 25th anniversary, a milestone that provides an opportunity to review the progress made and address future challenges in social intervention.
Through her participation, María Villa Carpio Fernández contributed to the academic and professional debate on unwanted loneliness amongst young people – a priority issue for the PROMOBIENESTAR Chair – within the framework of this forum, which aims to foster the exchange of knowledge and experiences and to advance reflection on social responses to this reality.
