A study by the Universidad Ces de Medellín found that there is a worrying deterioration in the mental health of the elderly population five main cities in Colombia: Bucaramanga, Pereira, Popayán, Santa Marta and Medellín.
In the investigation it was found that the 44.2% of adults surveyed present some kind of risk regarding suicidal ideation; however, 55.8% of the elderly population has a low risk. Pereira is the city that causes the most concern, as it was found that 62.5% of those questioned presents higher risks that require specialized care by professionals of physical and mental health.
On the contrary, less than 15% of the elderly population consume legal and illegal substances such as tobacco or cigarettes, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, tranquilizers or others. 8.1% of those consulted consume several medications simultaneously.
Meanwhile, one in three elderly said they had hobby of the game Chance, table games, lottery, Baloto and Super Astro are the most reported games. Medellin is the city where more older adults have this hobby. 13.6% of older people who are fond of games stated that they had made money bets at some point in their lives.
On psychological well-being —measured as the ability to have a lot of mental toughness— the average in the five study cities is 38.3%. The highest percentage was in Bucaramanga with 52.1%; miyou enter the lowest proportion was found in residents of Pereira with 28.6%.
Another aspect evaluated was that of happiness, which reported an average of 73% of respondents. In four cities this aspect exceeded 65%; in the city of Pereira it was 43%.
The research Health and mental well-being of the elderly included surveys to 390,415 people aged 60 and over from the cities of Bucaramanga, Medellín, Pereira, Popayán and Santa Marta and was developed by researchers Doris Cardona Arango, Ángela Segura Cardona, Alejandra Segura Cardona and Carlos Arturo Robledo Marín, professors at the CES Faculty of Medicine.
“We hope that decision makers take this research into account to implement a mental health prevention or promotion strategy in the elderly population,” added Professor Cardona Arango.