Salutesociale

Global health: connection, sustainability, and scientific research for shared well-being

In an era marked by unprecedented acceleration, economic precariousness, environmental uncertainty, geopolitical instability, and hyperconnectivity—which paradoxically contributes to a growing sense of loneliness—the concept of health is undergoing a profound transformation.

By Fabrizio Farinelli, Fondazione Patrizio Paoletti, and Dagmar Segbers, NIVEA Connect Beiersdorf Italy

10 Jun 2026

As previously suggested by the WHO in 1948, health can no longer be interpreted simply as the absence of disease. It is necessary to recognize and cultivate global health, understood as a state of complete physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being throughout the entire course of life, from childhood to adolescence, adulthood, and old age.

Today, the path toward global health intersects with a complex reality: according to the European Health Report 2024, one in six people in Europe dies before the age of 70 due to preventable lifestyle-related diseases, while in Italy mental health has become the second main concern, surpassed only by cancer. In this context, the Patrizio Paoletti Foundation engages with schools, families, and local communities, recognizing them as the new frontiers for building a global health that is truly equitable, inclusive, and resilient.

The challenge of loneliness in the digital age
One of the most alarming findings emerging from various international reports concerns social isolation. According to the Council of the European Union, despite being constantly connected online, 16% of the global population suffers from loneliness, a phenomenon that has increased by 22% after the pandemic.

Excessive use of digital tools is cited by 52% of Generation Z as a risk factor for mental health, according to Ipsos-Doxa data. Hyperconnectivity often fuels unhealthy, unrealistic, or dysfunctional body image standards. Moreover, excessive digitalization reduces time for physical movement and real-life relationships, which are essential for the development of intelligence and relational skills such as empathy. Loneliness is perceived as a genuine mind-body pain and is a clinical risk factor comparable to smoking or obesity.

To respond to this silent crisis—now described as a true “loneliness epidemic”—the Patrizio Paoletti Foundation and NIVEA Connect, the global social mission launched by NIVEA of the Beiersdorf Group, have chosen to collaborate on the project “Together Beyond Isolation: An Integrated Model for Youth Mental Well-being,” which translates into concrete actions for young people and families based on neuroscientific research.

The project operates on three synergistic levels and areas:

to inform and develop awareness and prevention, through a digital portal rich in scientific content and educational tools, accessible to students, teachers, educators, and families;
to strengthen resilience in schools through blended learning pathways, combining webinars and experiential workshops for students, teachers, and parents, aimed at developing life skills, emotional regulation, and meaningful relationships;
to build connections within local communities through two psychological support centers in highly disadvantaged neighborhoods, such as Tor Bella Monaca in Rome and Scampia in Naples, which provide ongoing support to young people and families while integrating educational, artistic, and physical activities.

This integrated approach aims to bridge gaps and inequalities in prevention, care, and services, primarily reaching the most vulnerable people, who often face economic or cultural barriers, in order to make health truly global.

Anna Grassano, General Manager of Beiersdorf Southern Europe, states: “With NIVEA Connect, we are committed to creating spaces where people can feel heard and supported, fostering authentic connections and providing concrete tools for those experiencing isolation, so they can seek help without hesitation. Our partnership with the Patrizio Paoletti Foundation further strengthens this commitment, combining our global vision with the Foundation’s scientific and pedagogical expertise to build more aware and inclusive communities and to promote a culture of connection and mutual listening.”

Workplace well-being as a determinant of global health
Organizational choices within companies are key determinants of global health. Through its outreach work, the Patrizio Paoletti Foundation also promotes full human sustainability in the corporate world, emphasizing that economic activity cannot be reduced to productivity alone. Working hours, physical spaces, workload, emotional environment, and communication styles are all variables that influence psycho-physical balance and also affect productivity.

The right to disconnect, balanced workload management, the promotion of autonomy, and leadership oriented toward well-being are essential elements for fostering a culture of health in the workplace, where mental well-being is recognized and promoted without stigma.

Companies like Beiersdorf are called to assess internal sense of community as well as the level of emotional literacy among employees. Global health, in fact, recognizes the deep interconnection between the individual and the system. A healthy worker lives in a healthy ecosystem that values human relationships and transparency. Within this framework lies the training session held for Beiersdorf employees in October 2025 by the Patrizio Paoletti Foundation, on the occasion of World Mental Health Day. This moment strengthened the shared vision and the alliance between the corporate world and the Third Sector, not only capable of generating impact, but also of pointing toward a possible direction for the society we want to build: conscious, inclusive, and profoundly human.

The future of research: science and consciousness
The Patrizio Paoletti Foundation believes in and invests, together with partners such as Beiersdorf, in research that is immediately translated into projects and protocols capable of improving quality of life. At the center is always the person and human relationship, understood as a fundamental element of well-being and global health, promoted through the shared project with NIVEA Connect.

The Foundation, which has just celebrated its 25th anniversary, continues to invest in neuro-psycho-pedagogical research, integrating science and education, innovation and tradition, cutting-edge brain research with ancient practices such as intentional silence and meditation.

Promoting global health today means investing in education as the primary form of prevention, including education in interdependence. The path toward global health requires us to train ourselves to envision a future where technology is a tool for real connection rather than a barrier; where work is a place of personal and collective fulfillment rather than exhaustion and frustration; and where care for oneself, for others, and for relationships is recognized as the fundamental pillar of the health of individuals, communities, and the planet—for a sustainable, lasting, and shared prosperity.