Social workers enhance later life by upholding rights, fighting discrimination, and ensuring compassionate care.
Roughly one in five older people will experience some kind of mental health condition. To thrive in later life, it is essential that older people receive timely, quality care, including therapeutic support.
This Awareness Week, led by the IPA which campaigns for better mental health for older people, is a chance to demand a good later life for everyone and to challenge the ageism that can contribute to poor mental health.
IFSW Europe supports Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Week and celebrates the central role that social workers play in upholding rights, fighting age discrimination and ensuring people receive the care and support they need.
The Awareness Week starts on 1 October with United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons and concludes on 10 October with World Mental Health Day. These days were created to emphasise the importance of human rights.
As a human-rights profession, social work can support these days and the Awareness Week as a whole. Please:
- Share information about the week
- Take the opportunity to tell someone about the importance of social work in upholding rights in later life in your country.