Abstract
This desk review evaluates the current state of interventions for mental health and cognitive functioning among older adults in Switzerland focusing on the features of these interventions as well as on Swiss-specific contextual factors that contribute to vulnerability and stigma. The goal is to guide the development of effective, evidence-based interventions and policies to ensure that older adults in Switzerland not only live longer but also enjoy better mental health and cognitive functioning. We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus for eligible studies from January 2018 until October 2024. We included studies investigating interventions targeting mental health and/or cognitive functioning in older adults living in Switzerland. In addition, we searched for gray literature reporting on cognitive and mental health interventions, as well as mental health, cognitive functioning, stigmatization, and stigma mitigation strategies in the Swiss context. Core features of the interventions (intervention type, efficacy, delivery modes, recruitment, stigma-related aspects) and target populations (groups at risk of vulnerability, stigma sources) were extracted, descriptively summarized, and discussed. A comprehensive search resulted in 1200 records, with 26 peer-reviewed articles and five gray literature reports meeting the inclusion criteria. The findings suggest that individualized multidomain interventions, including behavioral change techniques and multifaceted stigma-mitigating strategies, might be required to sustainably improve mental health in older adults.