Dr. Anis Ben Brik, Associate Professor and Founder of the College of Public Policy’s program for social policy evaluation and research (PROSPER), spoke at the European Network of Social Authorities’ (ENSA) annual meeting on January 25. His presentation was titled: “The Impact of COVID-19 on the Senior Population” and highlighted data showing that the Delta and Omicron variants have elevated mental health crises among older people (65+) across 23 European countries. The data was collected as part of the COVID-19 Family Life Study conducted since March 2020 across 72 countries.

The meeting, attended by representatives of governments, civil society organizations, and academia from Europe, focused on quality of life, and post-COVID challenges and opportunities for seniors, professionals, and persons with disabilities in Europe. The aim was to discuss and advocate for accessible local health and social services integrated in communities, including multidimensional care approaches. Dr. Ben Brik’s participation is part of his continuous collaboration with the ENSA network, which encourages international cooperation in the social sector.