Coronavirus (COVID-19): mental health - transition and recovery plan

9. Older People

We know that older people are more likely to experience circumstances which contribute to poorer mental health, such as poverty, isolation, loneliness and poor physical health. The impacts of the current pandemic may exacerbate these circumstances. Our response will provide a full range of help and support for older people, in ways that are accessible to them.

• 9.1 - Ensuring Mental Health Support. We will work to ensure there is equitable access to mental health support and services for older people, recognising that not all older people will have access to digital resources.

• 9.2 - Peer Support. We will work with stakeholder bodies to support the development of peer support approaches to maintaining good mental health that have emerged for and among older people during lockdown.

• 9.3 - Research and Evidence. We will work with stakeholder bodies and the research community to fully understand and respond to the wide-ranging mental health impacts of Covid-19 on older people.

• 9.4 - Loneliness. Building on Scottish Government's strategy for tackling social isolation, 'A Connected Scotland', we will work with stakeholders and partners to develop a range of actions to support people experiencing loneliness as a result of the pandemic and the associated physical distancing restrictions.