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N o n - c ommu n i c a b l e d i s e a s e s a n d d i s a b i l i t i e s understanding of the link between healthy behaviours across the life course and good health in older age, and upgrading their skills and capacity to care for older people who are frail, ill or disabled (WHO, 2014; see Box: ‘Mental health strategies’). Active and positive ageing are essential to the consideration of the mental and physical health of the elderly, and the cornerstone for health promotion and prevention (see Box: ‘Active ageing’). Active ageing is the process of optimising opportunities for physical, mental and social health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life (WHO, 2002). Many Commonwealth countries are beginning to develop an adequate health response to the mental health needs of rapidly ageing populations and aged mental health services are now well established in countries such as the UK, Canada and Australia, with emerging interest in the subspecialty and recognition of the need for service providers to acquire expertise in the area (Ames et al., 2010). There is evidence that mental health is being more strategically prioritised in many national health plans and, coupled with a strategic priority of healthy ageing, this represents increased opportunities for action. The strategic directions of UHC form a strong framework to improve our understanding and response to regional socioeconomic implications of population ageing and older persons’ support systems in relation to mental health. Conclusion With rapidly ageing populations, it is imperative that Commonwealth nations continue to develop policies that support the prevention, early treatment and long-term care of mental health problems in older persons. Identifying the multiple risk factors that determine mental disorders in older persons is a key strategy. Nations need to develop a prevention focus, built around a co-ordinated, multi-sector and whole-of-government approach to address this growing health burden in the post-2015 agenda. Universal access to affordable and quality health care services needs to be sensitive to the involvement of multiple stakeholders and the close interaction between health care and the socioeconomic and cultural factors in ageing and good health. Building the mental health component to the Commonwealth healthy ageing agenda is an opportunity to maximise positive engagement and dialogue, and to promote collaborative solutions that strengthen mental health across the lifespan. Active ageing 80 Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015 References Ames, D., Chiu, E., Lindesay, J. and Shulman, K., 2010. Guide to the Psychiatry of Old Age. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Blazer, D. G., Steffens, D. C. and Busse, E. W., 2007. Essentials of Geriatric Psychiatry. Arlington: American Psychiatric Publishing. Chomik, R. and Piggott, J., 2013. ‘Asia in the ageing century: Part I – Population trends’. In: CEPAR (ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research), 2013. CEPAR research brief 2013/01. Sydney: CEPAR. Davison, T. E., McCabe, M. P., Mellor, D. et al., 2009. ‘Knowledge of late-life depression: An empirical investigation of aged care staff’. Aging Mental Health, 13, pp. 577–586. Ferri, C. P., Prince, M., Brayne, C. et al., 2005. ‘Global prevalence of dementia: A Delphi consensus study’. The Lancet, 366, pp. 2112–2117. Fiske, A., Wetherell, J. L. and Gatz, M., 2009. ‘Depression in older adults’. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 5, pp. 363–389. Menon, J. and Melendez-Nakamura, A., 2009. Aging in Asia: Trends, Impacts and Responses. Asian Development Bank working paper. PROFESSOR CHEE NG is the Healthscope chair of psychiatry at the Melbourne Clinic. He holds several positions: director of the International Unit, University of Melbourne Department of Psychiatry; co-director of Asia–Australia Mental Health; and site director of World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre in Mental Health at St Vincent’s. He has worked as an international mental health consultant for WHO, Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation, and on several national mental health projects in Asia-Pacific countries. He served as the consultant who delivered the keynote report and presentation ‘Mental health: Towards economic and social inclusion’ at the Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting in 2013. BRIGID RYAN is the programme manager of Asia–Australia Mental Health, based at St Vincent’s Mental Health, which delivers a wide range of activities to support regional partners to develop mental health service capacity. She has a public health background and has worked with the Postgraduate Overseas Specialist Training programme, focusing on training and capacity-building in community mental health and rehabilitation. She has worked with health workers in the Asia-Pacific region in the areas of community mental health, HIV/AIDS and the prevention of violence against women. PROFESSOR EDMOND CHIU is professor emeritus at the Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, University of Melbourne. A past president of the International Psychiatric Association and a former chairman of the Section of Old Age Psychiatry of the World Psychiatric Association, he founded the Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, which awarded him the Medal of Honour. The award of Member of the Order of Australia recognised his contribution to medicine and psychiatry, particularly with regard to Huntington’s disease. He is guest professor of Peking University and the National University of Singapore, and has conducted many training courses in the Asia-Pacific region. Active ageing includes reaching the following targets: • Individuals and families preparing for old age and adopting positive health practices for a long life with optimum health • Social policy making health choices easily accessible, while recognising, encouraging and rewarding participation of older people in work, education, learning, volunteering and family life • Businesses engaging in partnership with older persons in developing innovative technology, products and services for older persons, as well as developing work opportunities for them


Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015
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