ABSTRACT
Mental health concerns are common in older adults with the prevalent depressive symptoms. The rapid transmission of COVID-19 in this pandemic outbreak, higher mortality rates, self-isolation, social-distancing, and quarantine could all exacerbate the risk of mental health difficulties. There is currently very little known about the broader impact of COVID-19 on global mental health, in general, and geriatric mental health, in particular. Mental health issues could worsen and further impair the cognitive and emotional functioning of persons of all ages. Insufficient and inadequate attention has been paid to the mental health of older age groups in terms of quality and timely psychological crisis intervention. Social isolation and social disconnection – their documented bidirectional and complex relationship between mental health issues and social disconnectedness – poses a serious public health concern among older adults. This is due to psychosocial issues and physiological health problems such as mental health problems, diabetes, cardiovascular, autoimmune, neurocognitive, neurobiological, and other at-risk health problems.
