Q U a R T E R L Y

JULY 2016 QNT104 Q u a r t e r l y from the Association of Former WHO Staff Tel :+41(0)22 791 3192 Office 4141, WHO, CH- 1211 Geneva, Switzerland Mail to: aoms @who.int Website: http://who.int/formerstaff/en/ Informed opinion and active co-operation on the part of the public are of the utmost importance in the improvement of the health of the people (WHO, Basic Documents, 47th Edition, 2009) The Schönbrunn castle in Vienna (AFSM cruise from 30.06.2016 - 07.07.2016) This very interesting cruise on the Danube led the group (20 participants) from Vi- enna to Bratislava, Kalocsa, Esztergom, Budapest etc. and return to Vienna (see pages 2 and 18) 1 JULY 2016 QNT104 A group photo of the cruise participants The Central synagogue in Budapest Embarking Harvesting paprika in Kalocsa Horsemen demonstrating in the Puszta 2 The photos are by JP Menu Other photos in the French version JULY 2016 QNT104 CONTENTS EDITORIAL Pages This year is the year of our elections in October. You have now received the calls for applications. Many of 4,5 Our health you recognize the value of our association, including 6,7 Staff Health Insurance its assistance to those in need, especially with regard 7,8 Pensions to health insurance and pensions. Unfortunately few of you commit yourselves. As we 8 Preretirement seminar have said many times, our Executive Committee is 8- 12 News from WHO growing older so it needs to be renewed by bringing 12 Astronomy in "new blood." Once again, we would like our “young” retirees to join us, but of course anyone who 13 New members, remem- is willing to come to help us out would be most wel- bering the past ; Lunch in Copenhagen come As part of our annual trip, a very interesting cruise 14 BAFUNCS has just taken place on the Danube from Vienna. It 15 Book review was much appreciated, as usual, by the participants. 15, 16 In memoriam We hope to continue these trips - usually river cruises but any suggestions would be welcome. 17 Readers’Corner, 17Impressions from Portugal You received the QNT 103 with a big delay. This is 18 WHO cruise due to the work overload of the Printing and Distri- ------------------ bution Services. This issue is also distributed with de- Editorial Board lay due to the holidays. However, as you know, from the beginning of the Chief Editor and layout: David Cohen month of publication, and sometimes earlier, you can Yves Beigbeder, Laura Ciaffei, find it on our website. Sue Block Tyrrell, Maria Dweggah, Samy Kossovsky, Lindsay Martinez Please remember, for those who can, to attend our Jean-Paul Menu, Dev Ray annual reception to be held on Thursday 6 October. Rosemary Villars It only remains to wish a very good summer to those Translations, articles: all the Editorial Board who live in the northern hemisphere and a very good This QN104 was checked and Important contacts winter for corrected by Bunty Muller AFSM: see on page 1 those in the ---------------------------------- Health Insurance (SHI): +41(0)22 791 18 18; in case of absence, southern We pay special tribute to please leave a message: someone will call back, hemisphere. the Printing, Distribution and Or email to: [email protected] Mailing Services. DC Pensions: +41(0)22 928 88 00; ----------------------------- The opinions expressed in this Email: [email protected] for Geneva magazine are those of the authors Or+1 212 963 6931 and and not necessarily those of the [email protected] for New York Editorial Board. ----- Send your contributions to: AFSM office covered on Tuesday and Wednesday David Cohen from 9:30 to 12:00 [email protected] Otherwise, please leave a message: someone will call back 3 JULY 2016 QNT104 Depression Matters, by Martha Peláez Our health With the kind agreement of the Association of Former PAHO/WHO Staff Mem- bers, we are pleased to share below an article on depression in seniors which was published in their April Newsletter Including three main the most prevalent mental health problem components: low prob- among older adults but should not be consid- ability of disease and ered a normal part of ageing. Persistent sad- disease-related dis- ness or serious depression is not “normal.” It 2 ability, high cognitive can and should be treated : and physical functional A common rule in medicine is: diagnose first, capacity, and active treat second. However, depression is often not engagement with life, diagnosed because it may occur alongside Rowe and Kahn reiter- other serious diseases such as diabetes, can- ated WHO’s definition cer, or heart disease; or it may be seen as of health: successful caused by life events such as the loss of (healthy) ageing is more than the absence of spouse or by a combination of serious family, disease. However, Rowe and Kahn took the social, or economic issues. Depression is often concept of health in old age a step further and associated with medications we take or with claimed that absence of disease, and maintain- vitamin B12 deficiency or thyroid disorders. ing functional capacity both require “active en- Older adults may also exhibit different or less gagement” with life to lead to a global definition obvious depressive symptoms than younger of successful ageing1. adults, and may be less inclined to experience Since the work of Rowe and Kahn, the scien- or acknowledge feelings of sadness or grief. tific community has continued to create evi- So the first step is to get a good medical dence showing a positive correlation between evaluation. If you are in doubt, a second opin- someone’s perceived health, self-efficacy, ion by a geriatric physician or psychiatrist can physical activity, social relationships, and cop- be very helpful. ing skills, among others, with their ability to age more successfully. The WHO Mental Health Gap Action Pro- gramme was launched in 2008 to increase ser- Why does depression matter? Depression is vices in low income settings across the world; it often associated with various common symp- has never prioritized issues of mental health in toms, usually lasting more than two weeks, aging populations. Yet, late-life depression is contributing to “disengagement with life”: fairly easy to detect, highly treatable, and a • feeling sad, depressed, or blue candidate for prevention efforts – making it an • feeling nervous or emotionally “empty” excellent focus for public health activities. Liv- • feelings of excessive guilt or worthlessness ing with untreated depression presents a seri- • tiredness or a “slowed down” feeling ous public health problem. Depression compli- • restlessness and irritability cates chronic conditions, such as heart diseas- • feeling like life is not worth living es, diabetes, and stroke; increases health care • sleep problems, including trouble getting to costs; and often accompanies functional im- sleep, wakefulness in the middle of the night, pairment and disability2 (Frederick, 2007; or sleeping too much Katon, 2003; Snowden, 2008; Unützer, 1997). • eating more or less than usual, usually with Late-life depression has also been linked to unplanned weight gain or loss higher mortality from suicide and cardiac dis- • having persistent headaches, stomachaches, ease (Frederick, 2007; Snowden, 2009). or other chronic pain that does not go away when treated The World Health Report on Healthy Aging, • loss of interest in once pleasurable activities, (2015) highlights the importance of addressing including sex depression and anxiety in older populations. • frequent crying The Report states that one in 10 older adults • difficulty focusing, remembering or making have substantial depressive symptomatology decisions without often meeting the diagnostic criteria for • thoughts of death or suicide, or a suicide at- a depressive disorder. This is referred to tempt. as“subthreshold depression” or dysthymia. Depression is a treatable public health is- Subthreshold depression has a major impact sue, especially in older adults. Depression is on the quality of life of older people and is a 4 JULY 2016 QNT104 major risk factor for persons sion and unsolved problems. PEARLS pro- Our health living with multiple chronic vides a concrete, easy-to-learn, and empower- conditions. Both dysthymia ing approach to solving problems. The second and minor depression, which entails fewer treatment is behavioural activation, where symptoms and less impairment than major de- PEARLS participants make plans to increase pression, are more common than major de- or re-engage in greater physical, social, and pression in older adults (Clechanowski, 2004) pleasant activities. Becoming more active is and yet contribute significantly to disability in key to improve older adults’ mood and energy older adults. (Wells, 1989, Beekman, 1997)3. as well. Greater social connections with friends, neighbours, and family leads to more Becoming more active is key to deal with satisfying lives. Research for the programme depression symptoms found that, after participants learned to define We look at how we can learn from community- and solve their problems and become more based programs and how to build bridges be- active, their depression symptoms were re- tween primary care settings and the community duced. in order to address and cure depression and The PEARLS program was developed at the subthreshold depression symptoms in older University of Washington in the late 1990s by a adults. team led by Mr. Ed Wagner, who is a primary Researchers from the University of Washington developer of the Chronic Care Model. During Health Promotion Research Center have cre- the past decade, two randomized controlled ated the Program to Encourage Active and trials have demonstrated that the PEARLS Rewarding Lives for Seniors (PEARLS)4 in Program is effective in reducing depressive close partnership with local aging and social symptoms and improving quality of life in older service providers.

Load more