Most older people do not seek help for mental health issues due to lack of awareness about the effective treatments that are available and ingrained attitudes towards emotional problems. New data from Age UK reveals that more than six in 10 people in the UK aged 65 or over have experienced depression and anxiety.
Full Answer
Why are older adults with mental health problems unlikely to seek help?
Older adults with mental health problems are especially unlikely to seek professional mental health services. It is not clear, however, whether their help-seeking attitudes and treatment beliefs contribute to this problem.
Do older adults need specialty mental health care for depression?
And while older adults, and in particular older African Americans, are more likely to seek mental health treatment in primary care than in specialty mental health settings ( 13, 14 ), they remain less likely than their younger counterparts to have their depression detected and treated in these settings ( 15 - 17 ).
Why are mental health services underutilized in older patients?
Further, mental health services may be underutilized by older patients as they may be in denial, may not have adequate insurance coverage, or their other physical chronic conditions may take precedence during a primary care visit, leaving their mental health unchecked.
Do African American older adults seek mental health treatment more often?
In fact, while the vast majority of African American older adults had never sought mental health treatment, more than half of the White older adults had sought treatment at some point in their lives. These findings were consistent even when controlling for depressive symptoms and education.
What is the most common mental health problem for older adults?
The Significance of Depression Depression, a type of mood disorder, is the most prevalent mental health problem among older adults. It is associated with distress and suffering (4). It also can lead to impairments in physical, mental, and social functioning (4).
When older adults are treated for psychosis which medications produce better outcomes and have fewer side effects?
Atypical antipsychotic medications (e.g., olanzapine [Zyprexa®], quetiapine [Seroquel®]) generally produce fewer of the adverse effects commonly associated with the typical antipsychotic medications. Weight gain is common, especially with clozapine (Clozaril®) and olanzapine (Boyd, 2008).
How does age affect mental health?
There is evidence that some natural body changes associated with aging may increase a person's risk of experiencing depression. Recent studies suggest that lower concentrations of folate in the blood and nervous system may contribute to depression, mental impairment, and dementia.
Why is mental health important for older adults?
Mental health is as important as physical health. Untreated mental health disorders in older adults can lead to diminished functioning, substance abuse, poor quality of life, and increased mortality. Research shows mental illness can slow healing from physical illnesses.
Why mental health issues are not addressed with the elderly?
Research shows that older adults are often less comfortable seeking care from a mental health professional than their younger counterparts. Due to historical shame and ignorance surrounding mental illnesses and psychological problems, stigma tends to be more powerful among those who came of age before the 1960s.
What is the primary reason that patients stop taking antipsychotic medications?
Intentional nonadherence refers to a conscious patient decision to stop taking medication or to take less medication than is prescribed. The identified reasons in this category include poor insight, a negative attitude toward medication, distressing medication side effects, poor therapeutic alliance, and stigma.
What are the 5 key factors that affect the mental health and well-being of older adults?
Risk factors for mental health disorders in seniorsAlcohol or substance abuse.Dementia-causing illness (e.g., Alzheimer's disease)Illness or loss of a loved one.Long-term illness (e.g., cancer or heart disease)Chronic pain.Medication interactions.Physical disability or loss of mobility.More items...•
Are there senior adults that would not benefit from therapy?
Highlights. There is a belief that older people do not benefit from psychological interventions. Older people had less severe symptoms pre-treatment compared to working-age people. Clinical improvement was more likely and attrition less likely among older patients.
What are some of the challenges of mental health work with older adults?
Common among patient' concerns are: “inadequate insurance coverage, stigma around mental health… denial…and lack of transportation,” according to the APA open_in_new. Systemic reasons include things like a shortage of trained geriatric mental health providers and miscommunication between health care providers.
Does mental health decline with age?
Mental illnesses in early life linked to faster aging and worse health in later years. People with mental disorders in youth tend to have signs of accelerated aging in midlife and a higher risk of developing other diseases and of dying earlier, according to a pair of related studies supported in part by NIA.
How do benzodiazepines affect older adults as opposed to younger adults?
Disorientation, balance problems, daytime drowsiness and increased risk of injuries – like falls – are also benzodiazepine side effects. The very problems older adults hope to avoid, such as mental confusion or hip fractures, become more likely.
Which can cause increased cumulative drug effects for older adults?
4. Increased Sensitivity to Many Drugs: The problems of decreased body size, altered body composition (more fat, less water), and decreased liver and kidney function cause many drugs to accumulate in older people's bodies at dangerously higher levels and for longer times than in younger people.
What effect does decreased gastric motility have on older adults response to medications?
For drugs absorbed in the upper small intestine, such as acetaminophen, slowed gastrointestinal motility can delay the absorption and onset of action and reduce peak drug concentrations and pharmacologic effects.
Which of the following may be protective against Alzheimer's disease?
Small high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may help protect against Alzheimer's disease (AD), new research suggests.
Why do people not seek mental health care?
Let’s take a look at eight of the most common reasons that prevent people from obtaining needed mental health services: 1) Fear and shame. One of the most common reasons for not seeking help is fear and shame. People recognize the negative stigma and discrimination associated with having a mental illness and don’t want to be labeled “mentally ill” ...
What are the factors that prevent people from getting treatment?
Not having reliable transportation, child care issues and appointments for treatment that conflict with work or school schedules can also prevent someone from engaging in treatment. Addressing the problem. Any one of these factors which delay or prevent appropriate care can be very difficult to overcome.
Why are some of the more hidden factors challenging?
Finally, many of the more “hidden” factors (fear, shame, inadequacy, limited awareness, and hopelessness) are challenging, because the person may function fairly well on the surface and can generally conceal their mental health concerns.
What are the barriers to mental health care?
8) Practical barriers. Another common barrier to mental health care is inability to pay for treatment due to financial hardship or lack of health insurance.
Why do people worry about telling a stranger about their problems?
Many express concern about “telling a stranger” about their problems. Additionally, they worry that their personal information won’t be kept confidential. Some people have become demoralized by their mental health issues and believe “nothing will help me” or “I’ll never get better.”.
Does mental health insurance cover out of pocket?
The recent expansion in the US of mental health insurance benefits has opened up new care options for many people who were previously uninsured and who couldn’t afford to pay out of pocket for their treatment.
Why do people who don't receive mental health care get worse?
People who need mental health care don't receive it, their condition gets worse, and, as they get older, their access to care declines further as there aren't enough physicians in the geriatric field to provide that care. "One problem with the health care system is that it is split, and it is very disorganized," Jeste says.
Why are mental health services underutilized?
Further, mental health services may be underutilized by older patients as they may be in denial, may not have adequate insurance coverage, or their other physical chronic conditions may take precedence during a primary care visit , leaving their mental health unchecked.
Why is a longer lifespan important?
Rather, a longer lifespan exposes a person more, both in terms of mental and physical conditions, which may affect a person's overall psyche. "The longer you live, the more chance there is for illness to target you, and depression is a risk factor for people who have chronic illness, especially when it's chronic pain," Garfinkel says.
Do older adults have mental health?
Like all generations, older adults experience positive mental health when they perceive that they have social support and that they add value to their communities, says Helen Kivnick, a professor of social work at the University of Minnesota.
Does age affect happiness?
Contrary to conventional wisdom, an increase in age can lead to an increase in happiness. In fact, older adults tend to be more satisfied with their lives than their younger peers. But, for those who need it, limited supply of and access to proper geriatric psychiatric treatment leave many older adults' mental health issues underdiagnosed and thus undertreated.
Is there stigma against mental illness?
There is a considerable amount of stigma against mental illness, and when you talk about aging, there is considerable stigma against aging," Jeste says. "So older people with mental illness have this double whammy: They are stigmatized because of mental illness and stigmatized because they're older.".
Why do older adults deserve psychological wellness?
Older adults have the same end goal as everyone else: to feel as healthy and happy as they can. They want affordable treatments that have minimal side effects. They want the freedom to work with their doctors to choose treatments that are right for them.
Why do older people go without care?
Due to stigma, misinformation, and false beliefs about aging, they frequently go without adequate care for depression and other psychiatric illnesses and psychological problems. Too often, doctors offer prescription drugs as a cure-all solution, and fail to address the overall mental health and well-being of the older patient.
Is mental health a treatable disease?
The good news is, when accurately diagnosed, mental health issues are just as treatable in older populations as in younger, but it takes commitment and understanding. In order to help aging Americans get healthier and happier, the system needs to properly address the physical and mental needs of these patients.
Is mental health a physical illness?
The truth is, addressing mental health issues in older populations requires paying more attention, not less. In aging adults, depressive symptoms can point to a physical illness, while physical pain or other physical complaints can often be a sign of mental health issues. The good news is, when accurately diagnosed, ...
Can depression be a sign of dementia?
Alternatively, psychiatric symptoms can often point to a physical ailment that’s been overlooked. Depression can also be an early sign of dementia. Additionally, medical illnesses are too often misdiagnosed or wrongfully labeled as purely psychiatric illnesses.
Why do people not seek help for depression?
Some of the most common reasons people do not take the steps needed to obtain help for depression include: 1 Fear and shame: People recognize the negative stigma and discrimination of being associated with a mental illness. Fear of being labeled weak is part of the human condition, and it is natural to worry about impact on education, careers and life goals. 2 Lack of insight: When someone has clear signs of a mental illness but is convinced nothing is wrong, this is known as anosognosia. 3 Limited awareness: A person sometimes minimizes their issues and rationalizes that what is going on is “not that bad” or “everyone gets stressed.” Learning more about symptoms and conditions is advised for everyone wanting to better understand depression. 4 Feelings of inadequacy: Many people believe that they are inadequate or it would mean failure to admit that something is wrong. They believe they should be able to handle it. 5 Distrust: Some find it difficult to share personal details with a counselor, and may worry that information will not be kept confidential 6 Hopelessness: Sometimes there is a feeling that nothing will ever get better and nothing will help. 7 Unavailability: Some may not know how to find help, and in underserved areas this problem is more significant. 8 Practical barriers: A lack of reliable transportation or the ability to pay for services or appointments times that conflict with work or school schedules are significant.
Why is the integration of primary care and mental health services important?
The continuing integration of primary care and mental health services is meant to streamline the processes involved in getting people to the help that they need.
Why don't people take the steps needed to get help for depression?
Some of the most common reasons people do not take the steps needed to obtain help for depression include: Fear and shame: People recognize the negative stigma and discrimination of being associated with a mental illness.
What is it called when you are scared of being weak?
Lack of insight: When someone has clear signs of a mental illness but is convinced nothing is wrong, this is known as anosognosia.
