ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE MIDWEST OF CATARINA (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Anxiety and Depression Disorder in older people is found at statistically higher levels than in the young adult population. In this research, we sought to relate such diseases and their complications with the frequency of physical activities and the benefits that physical exercises can promote in helping to treat mental illnesses. The research carried out is an exploratory study based on scientific articles indexed in the Virtual Health Library (VHL). The search for the scientific literature was carried out in order to correlate the theme Mental Health and the Practice of Physical Activities. After reading the title and abstract, articles that best approached the proposed objectives were selected. In a second moment, an extensionist action was applied at UBS São Miguel and at a nursing home in the city of Fraiburgo, SC. As a strategy for action in health education, explanatory posters were used and pamphlets were distributed to participants. When reviewing the scientific literature, the inverse relationship between physical exercise and mental disorders was observed. Concomitantly, in the places where the extensionist action was applied, there was a significant prevalence of signs of depression and anxiety in the elderly population that was sedentary, corroborating the bibliographic search.