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Bu sayfa, 26. Dünya Psikiyatri Kongresi'nde sunulan çalışmanın yapay zekâ desteğiyle hazırlanmış Türkçe özetidir. Çalışmanın sahibi sunan yazarlardır; atıf için orijinal kaynağa başvurun.

A depression and suicide prevention program for older caregivers of people with dementia

A depression and suicide prevention program for older adults caring for people with dementia

An 11-session group program developed for caregivers aged 60 and older who care for people with dementia demonstrated high acceptability and revealed an unmet mental health need during its pilot phase.

The program aims to raise awareness of dementia and health risks, reduce caregiver burden, depression, and suicide risk, and strengthen social support among caregivers aged 60 and older who care for people with dementia. It was developed by a multidisciplinary team at the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw under the National Health Program (2021–2025) as a pilot preventive mental health intervention for older caregivers of people with dementia. The intervention consists of 11 weekly group sessions combining psychoeducation, emotional support, practical exercises, and relaxation techniques; it covers topics such as caregiver burden, depression, suicidal ideation, coping strategies, and the caregiver–patient relationship. The pilot evaluation included focus group interviews with facilitators and supervision meetings after each module; feasibility and acceptability were assessed through qualitative feedback. The pilot phase showed high acceptability, a substantial unmet need for mental health support among older caregivers, high engagement, and positive group dynamics. Participants valued the emotional support and the opportunity to share experiences with others in similar circumstances, particularly appreciating the relaxation and discussion-based components. Based on feedback, the psychoeducational content was reduced and the module structure was adapted to participants’ needs; limiting group size to 8–10 participants and assigning two facilitators were recommended. According to the authors, despite their increased risk of depression and suicidal ideation, older caregivers of people with dementia are insufficiently targeted by preventive interventions; the program appears feasible, warranting future evaluation of its effectiveness.

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