Mental Health Week for the Elderly

This week is National Mental Health Week for the Elderly.

Older people face special physical and mental health challenges which need to be recognized.

Common mental health issues like anxiety and depression can have a negative impact on physical health and wellness for seniors. Studies have found that approximately one in five older adults in the U.S. experience a mental illness, substance use disorder, or both.

From memory problems and cognitive decline to a growing loneliness epidemic, seniors are especially vulnerable to mental health issues. It is estimated that 20% of people age 55 years or older experience some type of mental health concern. The most common conditions include anxiety, depression, severe cognitive impairment, and mood disorders. Mental health issues are often implicated as a factor in cases of suicide.

In many cases, sadness and social isolation can have additional negative side effects and increase the risk of serious health problems. Mental health has an impact on physical health and vice versa. For example, older adults with physical health conditions such as heart disease have higher rates of depression than those who are healthy. Additionally, untreated depression in an older person with heart disease can negatively affect its outcome.

**However, adequate social and emotional support is associated with reduced risk of mental illness, physical illness, and mortality! **

There may be multiple risk factors for mental health problems at any point in life. Older people may experience life stressors common to all people, but also stressors that are more common in later life, like a significant ongoing loss in capacities and a decline in functional ability. For example, older adults may experience reduced mobility, chronic pain, frailty or other health problems, for which they require some form of long-term care. In addition, older people are more likely to experience events such as bereavement, or a drop in socioeconomic status with retirement. All of these stressors can result in isolation, loneliness or psychological distress in older people, for which they may require long-term care.

By raising awareness and setting up resources, we can help older adults who struggle with mental health issues or even prevent them from occurring. Mental Health Week for the Elderly was established recently in 2018. Since being created, it has made progress towards reaching the goal of improving mental health for elderly.