Citizens' University: How listening promotes health

Our fast-paced society, the anonymity of urban centres and demographic change - various factors make people feel unheard and lonely. This can have a significant impact on our physical and mental health. How can active listening help to alleviate loneliness, especially in older people? How can the relationship between healthcare professionals and patients be improved so that patients feel better understood and cared for? And what role do digitalisation and technological innovations play in this context? Dr Nicole Jankovic and Jil Herker will address these questions in their lecture at the Witten Citizens' University. At the Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion (IGVF) at Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H), the two scientists are researching the role and effect of conscious, non-judgemental listening in medical care.

On the evening of the lecture, the speakers will provide insights into their work at the IGVF and present the research project "The Art of Listening", which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Participants at the Citizens' University are invited to experience unintentional, non-judgemental listening for themselves during a practical exercise. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to exchange ideas and reflect together on how this practice can promote health and well-being for themselves and others.

The event will take place on Wednesday, 9 October, from 8 pm at Haus Witten, Ruhrstraße 86. Admission costs 7 euros at the box office (5 euros reduced). The Citizens' University is a joint event organised by the vhs Witten | Wetter | Herdecke and the WittenLab. Zukunftslabor Studium fundamentale of the UW/H.