Elderly and mental health:

Contributions of psychology to mental health in the project Happy Age

Abstract

Therefore, the objective of this study was to promote mental health and quality of life, as well as to achieve social integration and to provide autonomy to the elderly participants of the Happy Age Project, developed by the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of Cacoal in Cacoal/RO. This study consists of an experience report by the students of the interventions in this project. Through observation and therapeutic listening, we observed the frequent occurrence of thoughts, emotions and behaviors indicative of depressive disorders in the participants of the project. It was also identified that socioeconomic conditions, lifestyles, chronic diseases, losses and social skills as factors of influence in the participants' depressive symptoms. It can also be observed that although these factors are constant and intense in the lives of the elderly, most of the project participants use social support and religious thought as coping strategies. However, they are not sufficient in this process, explaining the need for health professionals in this context. Therefore, it is possible to perceive through the interventions carried out the importance of social interaction for the formation of positive representations regarding old age, as well as the need to offer this type of intervention by the public power to this population, especially with a view to their social reintegration ; it is incumbent upon the psychologist in this context to promote the mental health of the elderly.