A peer counselling program for the elderly with depression living in the community

Author: Ho, Amy¹

Source: Aging and Mental Health, Volume 11, Number 1, January 2007 , pp. 69-74(6)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

This study examines the effectiveness of a peer counselling program in Hong Kong for the elderly with depression living in the community, and its impact on the peer counsellors. Thirty depressed elderly subjects participated in the program, which was found to have improved their perceived health status and level of depression. As a result of their participation, subjects have also received more social support and adopted more positive coping strategies. As far as peer counsellors were concerned, they benefited in terms of personal growth through helping others, and helped to open a gateway to their own successful aging. Similar programs applied to wider populations and program evaluations utilizing both process and outcome measures are the key recommendations of this study.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/13607860600735861

Affiliations: 1: Department of Applied Social Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China

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