Mental health, resilience and proactive coping: ageing well in Australia

Li, W.;Moore, D.

Abstract

Australian population is rapidly ageing, which has significant impact on all aspects of social and economic life in the country. This trend calls for proactive approaches are necessary to ensure the wellbeing of older persons that leads to healthy, active and fulfilling lives. Mental health is one of the key factors, which plays an essential role in promoting older persons' wellbeing and maintaining their social connectedness in the community. Accordingly, prevention and screening of mental health problems has been given greater importance in age-care policies in Australia. Using the Clinical Assessment Scale for Elderly, this study examines mental health problems among 300 older persons living in Australia, exploring the effects of resilience and proactive coping strategies on their mental health. The purpose of the paper is to add to a better understanding of the mental health issues that the older persons face. The focus of the paper is on healthy and positive ageing, which reflects a shift from a traditional deficit-focused position towards a strengths-based approach in ageing and mental health research. The paper will contribute to the development of effective strategies of building individual, familial and community capacities, establishing social services, and developing responsive policies to meet the physical, social and psychological needs of older people.

Journal

Australasian Journal on Ageing

Publication Name

Australasian Journal on Ageing

Volume

ISBN/ISSN

1741-6612

Edition

N/A

Issue

Supplement S2

Pages Count

Location

Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Publisher Url

N/A

Publisher Location

N/A

Publish Date

N/A

Url

N/A

Date

N/A

EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1111/j.1741-6612.2012.00655.x