What do we know about the impact of viral epidemics on  older people’s mental health, and what can we do?

Hong Kong was struck by the community outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003. In the same year, the elderly suicide rate in Hong Kong showed a sharp upturn from a previous downward trend. Dr Rod McKay will speak to the findings and implications on this research and the key considerations and lessons learnt in the context of older people’s mental health.

Chan, S. M. S.,  Chiu, F. K. H., Lam, C. W. L., Leung, P. Y. V., & Conwell, Y. (2006).  Elderly suicide and the 2003 SARS epidemic in Hong Kong. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 21(2), 113-118.

Cheung, Y. T., Chau, P. H., & Yip, P. S. (2008). A revisit on older adults suicides and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Hong Kong. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.23(12), 1231-1238.

Yip, P. S., Cheung, Y. T., Chau, P. H., & Law, Y. W. (2010). The impact of epidemic outbreak: the case of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and suicide among older adults in Hong Kong. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 31(2), 86.

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