Mental health promotion strategies for the elderly population: a scoping review

This study aimed to map the scientific literature on strategies for promoting mental health among the elderly through a qualitative, descriptive scoping review. Data collection involved articles from the LILACS, MEDLINE, BDENF, INDEXPSI, and PubMed databases, using terms from the *Descritores em Ciências da Saúde* (DeCS) and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) combined with Boolean operators. Thirteen studies were selected, the majority published in English (76.92%). Regarding methodological designs, experimental studies predominated (38.46%). Most of the identified mental health promotion strategies were low-cost, including reminiscence therapy, media use, active aging programs, memory workshops, social interaction groups, home-based interventions, exercise programs, and supervised walking. Qualitative analysis using IRaMuTeQ generated 73 text segments and enabled a descending hierarchical classification into seven thematic classes. Frequently recurring terms—such as "health," "elderly," "mental," and "intervention"—highlight the study's focus on mental health promotion and applicable intervention strategies. The study concludes that the identified initiatives are efficient, accessible, and diverse, underscoring the importance of holistic approaches tailored to the specific contexts and needs of the elderly population, thereby contributing to the prevention of mental health conditions.