AIIMS to host conference on mental health of elderly

Responding to the rise in India's aging population, AIIMS-Delhi is hosting the first national conference on psycho-gerontology from December 2 to 4. The event, called Geripsych 2025, will focus on mental health and well-being for older adults.

During the conference, 15 symposia and 12 invited talks will cover topics including psychosocial issues in the elderly, evidence-based treatments, challenges, and advances in the field. Five workshops will provide hands-on training for participants.

Over 350 delegates from across the country have registered for the event. The event includes over 100 oral presentations and 60 poster presentations.

Dr Swati Kedia Gupta and Dr Preethy Kathiresan, organising secretaries, said the event brings together clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health nurses, counselors, gerontologists, medical specialists, researchers, policy advocates and public health professionals who work with older adults.

Discussions will focus on improving quality of life, dignity, autonomy, participation, and emotional well-being in aging.

The programme will feature two keynote lectures by Prof NK Chadha, member of the Indian Council of Medical Research's Board of Research Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences and Prof Kamleshwar Prasad, former head of the Department of Neurology at AIIMS.