| Azaraimy HH |
SENIOR citizens are advised to fight off the old age blues or depression common among retirees by adopting an active lifestyle.
This was the message put across during a health talk organised by the Health Promotion Centre, Ministry of Health and the Tutong Senior Citizen Activity Centre (PKWE Tutong).
Psychiatry Unit Nurse Haji Muhd Hannan bin Abdullah from the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah (PMMPMHAMB) Hospital in Tutong delivered the talk at PKWE Tutong.
Health Education Officer Siti Munawarah binti Tarif from the Health Promotion Centre told the Bulletin that the talk was part of a Senior Citizen Health Programme aimed at increasing awareness on health maintenance and healthy lifestyle.
“Sometimes, senior citizens may become home alone, thus it is important for them to know some skills in maintaining good health. The health programme is one way to improve their awareness, knowledge and skills in leading a healthy lifestyle appropriate to their age groups,” she explained.
“This time, we are engaging them to address depression partly because we are going to celebrate World Mental Health Day on October 10, thus our engagement this month is focussed on mental health.
“Today, as we are targetting senior citizens, the speaker focussed on how to avoid or control depression,” she added.
The Senior Citizen Health Programme, organised by the Health Promotion Centre, runs once a month at PKWE Tutong, with each month focussed on a different topic of common concern among senior citizens.
She urged senior citizens in the district to take part in the programme to upgrade their health maintenance skills.
“This is important because with this knowledge and skills, they will be able to enjoy a healthy old age life,” she added.