CAGP-CCSMH Annual Scientific Meeting Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry and Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health

The Canadian population is aging and the Atlantic Provinces have the oldest population in the country. Mental health is an integral part of healthy aging, and multi-sectoral approaches to promoting the mental health of older adults are important. The Age-Friendly Communities (AFCs) approach, a global initiative launched by the WHO in 2006, supports active aging in communities by designing policies, programs, services and the built and social environments in a way that facilitates safe, engaged, and healthy aging. Each of the eight domains included in the AFC approach has an impact on mental health. These include: outdoor spaces and buildings; transportation; housing; social participation; respect and social inclusion; civic participation and employment; communication and information; and community support and health services. The AFC approach addresses seniors’ mental health across the prevention and treatment spectrum, from building social connectedness to preventing loneliness, through to linking with specialized geriatric and/or psychiatry clinical care. This symposium will share initiatives and perspectives from Atlantic Canada that promote healthy active aging including positive mental health from a multidisciplinary perspective that includes the community environment and clinical care