The Issue

 

According to the data of the Hong Kong government, while three out of 100 adults in Hong Kong have depression, one out of 10 older adults have depressive symptoms. Worsened the situation is that more than half of the people with depression have not sought help from mental health services (https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201704/07/P2017040700174.htm). The situation of emotional distress of older adults has increased significantly due to the outbreak of Covid-19 resulting in social isolation for most older adults. According to a recent study by the University of Hong Kong (JC JoyAge of the University of Hong Kong, 2022), more than a third of Hong Kong adults aged 60 and above suffered from “emotional distress” during the city’s fifth and worst wave of Covid-19.

The Solution

 

This project suggests a possible remediation program for older adults even in the situation that social isolation is necessary, that is, an online lifestyle medicine program. Lifestyle Medicine is a medical approach that uses evidence-based behavioral interventions to prevent, treat and manage chronic disease. According to the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, lifestyle medicine focuses on six areas to improve health including a healthy diet, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and other non-drug modalities.  Much scientific evidence supports the efficacy of lifestyle medicine in reducing physical (i.e., heart disease and stroke) and mental (i.e., memory loss and depressive mood) problems.