The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has severely affected the mental health and well-being of older people. As a high-risk group for severe disease and mortality, older people had to be especially cautious to avoid contracting the virus. Adherence to public health and social measures left them facing extended periods of social isolation, interrupted care services and exclusion from societal life. Living with the Times is a mental health and psychosocial support toolkit developed by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings (IASC MHPSS RG), co-chaired by the World Health Organization and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The toolkit specifically addresses the coping needs of older people during the pandemic. It contains five large posters and an instruction manual for caregivers that can be printed out or used on screen. Using illustrations and short texts, each poster addresses one of the following questions:
- How can I stay healthy?
- What can I do to improve my mood?
- How can I feel connected to my family and community?
- Where can I get help if I need it?
- How can I cope with grief and loss?
The posters were developed in collaboration with a network of MHPSS technical working groups at country level and piloted with older adults from different countries, income groups and contexts, including humanitarian settings. The toolkit has been translated into 14 languages and adapted into accessible formats for people with special needs, such as braille for visually impaired people.[i]
[i] IASC. Living with the Times: A Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Toolkit for Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic. 2021 (https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/iasc-reference-group-mental-health-and-psychosocial-support-emergency-settings/living-times-mental-health-and-psychosocial-support-toolkit-older-adults-during-covid-19-pandemic).
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