Centre for Policy on Ageing



Healthy and wise — promoting mental health in Australian rural elders
Author(s)	Suzy Gattuso
Journal title	Journal of Mental Health and Aging, vol 7, no 4, Winter 2001
Pages	pp 425-434
Keywords	Health [elderly] ; Mental health [elderly] ; Psychiatric treatment ; Rural areas ; Australia.
Annotation	Rural Australia is ageing rapidly, while at the same time, services are being drastically reduced. Healthy And Wise, an innovative project promoting mental health among older people, was developed in conjunction with older mentors and professional and community groups. The project was successful in attracting participants at risk for psychological morbidity, and was highly effective in meeting its objectives of an increase in psychological well-being associated with attitudinal and behavioural changes. Well-being improved significantly as a result of the project, an improvement sustained at follow-up. Participants spoke of greater self-confidence, of feeling more at ease with ageing, and of lifestyles likely to increase and maintain well-being. Sessions normalising memory lapses, stress reactions, and sad mood were greatly valued, and the project's philosophy of partnership with older people was also a key to success. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-020416205 A
Classmark	CC: D: LP: RL: 7YA
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.