Presentation Information
[P-22-01]Accessibility of technology relating to mental health promotion among elderly minority people in remote Northern regions of Thailand
*Supaporn Sudnongbua (Naresuan University(Thailand))
Keywords:
elderly people,minority people,mental health promotion,accessibility of technology,remote area
Background: Since Covid-19 pandemic situation, mental health awareness has risen gradually. It has threatened and affected mental health among elderly minority people in remote areas. Accessibility of technology has become key approach to promote mental health for those people. Methods: Cross-sectional survey was employed and consisted of a questionnaire for a tool. Data were derived from overall 468 samples. Those samples were minority people and aged 60 and over. They were selected randomly as participants. Face-to-face questionnaire interview was undertaken to investigate. The study aimed to determine the level of mental health promotion and the accessibility of technology that might relate to the mental health promotion. Results: The results revealed that 61.8% of participants experienced medium level of mental health issues. In addition, 87.3% of them reported that their mental health promotion was in medium level as well as their accessibility of technology (59.4%). In terms of other factors, 65.2%, 82.1%, and 39.7% of them stated that their financial security, accessibility of mental health services, and interpersonal relationship were in medium level respectively. Furthermore, 37% of them reported that they had non-mental health care and 11.7% of them used culturally responsive mental health care. Regarding correlation, mental health issues (r = 0.207, p = 0.000), accessibility of technology (r = 0.154, p = 0.001), methods of mental health care (r = -0.125, p = 0.007), and accessibility of mental health services (r = 0.107, p = 0.021) were associated with mental health promotion.Conclusion: These findings highlighted the association of accessibility of technology and mental health promotion among elderly minority people who had lived in remote area where modern technology was needed. Regarding recommendation, mental health promotion for elderly minority people needs to be applied with modern technology as well as cultural belief for enhancing mental health among those people.