An interesting finding of the telephone survey, Lehman says, was that older adults themselves were much less likely to perceive a need for mental health care than younger adults, so they may be less likely to bring up concerns with their primary care provider. Ageism and perceived stigma about mental health care may play a role as well.
Full Answer
Does the treatment of mental disorders differ between younger and older adults?
However, in a number of cases the treatment of mental disorders in older adults has been observed to differ from the care received by younger adults.
Do people with a history of mental health problems age faster?
The results showed that at middle age, people with a history of mental health problems were aging at a faster pace, as measured by a panel of biomarkers and assessments of sensory, motor, and cognitive function.
Why is mental health important in the care of the aged?
The issue is not just prevention of a problem, but also promotion of general health, and mental health is an essential aspect of care of the aged. Hence, perspective on quality of life, subjective well-being and emotional support are key concerns for the elderly in the modern era, irrespective of scientific advances in medical care.
How does mental health affect physical health in older adults?
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.
Why are young adults more at risk for mental illness?
Rates of mood disorders and suicide-related outcomes have increased significantly among adolescents and young adults, and the rise of social media may be to blame. Mental health problems are on the rise among adolescents and young adults, and social media may be a driver behind the increase.
Why do old people not care about mental health?
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.
Why does mental health decrease with age?
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.
What age group is most affected by mental health?
Prevalence of Any Mental Illness (AMI) This number represented 21.0% of all U.S. adults. The prevalence of AMI was higher among females (25.8%) than males (15.8%). Young adults aged 18-25 years had the highest prevalence of AMI (30.6%) compared to adults aged 26-49 years (25.3%) and aged 50 and older (14.5%).
Does mental health get better 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 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 in older adults important?
Mental health is as important as physical health. Good mental health contributes greatly to an overall feeling of well-being. Untreated mental health disorders in older adults can lead to diminished functioning, substance abuse, poor quality of life, and increased mortality.
Why elderly mental health is important?
It affects how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, including as we age. Many older adults are at risk for mental health problems.
How does depression in older adults differ from depression in younger adults?
Differences from younger adults Depression in older adults may present somewhat differently than in younger adults. For example, older adults are less likely to endorse cognitive-affective symptoms of depression, including dysphoria and worthlessness/guilt, than are younger adults (Gallo et al., 1994).
At what age does 75% of all lifetime mental ill health begin?
50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
What is the youngest age a person can be mentally ill?
While half of all mental illness begins by the age of 14, most cases go undetected and untreated.
Which age group is most affected by the pandemic?
We find that as of 29 October 2020, adults aged 20 to 34 and 35 to 49 are the only age groups that have sustained SARS-CoV-2 transmission with reproduction numbers (transmission rates) consistently above one.
What are the effects of mental health on older people?
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. Mental health has an impact on physical health and vice versa.
What are the risk factors for mental health in older adults?
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.
What are the most common mental disorders in older people?
The most common mental and neurological disorders in this age group are dementia and depression, which affect approximately 5% and 7% of the world’s older population, respectively.
What is the WHO Mental Health Gap?
Depression, psychoses, suicide, epilepsy, dementia and substance use disorders are included in the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) that aims to improve care for mental, neurological and substance use disorders through providing guidance and tools to develop health services in resource-poor areas. The mhGAP package consists of interventions for prevention and management for each of these priority conditions in non-specialized health settings including in those for older people.
Why is mental health important?
Good general health and social care is important for promoting older people's health, preventing disease and managing chronic illnesses. Training all health providers in working with issues and disorders related to ageing is therefore important.
What are the health problems of older adults?
While most have good mental health, many older adults are at risk of developing mental disorders, neurological disorders or substance use problems as well as other health conditions such as diabetes, hearing loss, and osteoarthritis. Furthermore, as people age, they are more likely to experience several conditions at the same time.
How much of the world's population will be over 60 by 2050?
Globally, the population is ageing rapidly. Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s population over 60 years will nearly double, from 12% to 22%. Mental health and well-being are as important in older age as at any other time of life.
Why do researchers need the participation of older people in their clinical trials?
Researchers need the participation of older people in their clinical trials so that scientists can learn more about how the new drugs, therapies, medical devices, surgical procedures, or tests will work for older people. For more information, check out the National Institute on Aging (NIA)’s What Are Clinical Trials and Studies? tip sheet.
How does depression affect older people?
It’s just as important for an older person with symptoms of depression to seek treatment as it is for someone younger. The impact of depression on health in older adults can be severe: much research has reported that depression is associated with worse health in people with conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Depression can complicate the treatment of these conditions, including making it more difficult for someone to care for him- or herself and to seek treatment when needed. In older adults, depression may be disregarded as frailty, or it may be viewed as an inevitable result of life changes, chronic illness, and disability. Recognizing the signs and seeing a health practitioner is the first step to getting treatment, which can make a real difference in someone’s quality of life.
Why do clinical trials need older participants?
It is important for clinical trials to have participants of different ages, sexes, races, and ethnicities. When research involves a group of people who are similar, the findings may not apply to or benefit everyone. When clinical trials include diverse participants, the study results may have a much wider applicability.
What is the National Institute of Aging?
National Institute of Aging (NIA): NIA offers health information on a variety of topics of relevance to older adults. Older Adult Mental Health: National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus offers resources on aging and mental health ( en español ).
What is compulsive thinking?
Obsessive thinking or compulsive behavior. Thoughts or behaviors that interfere with work, family, or social life. Unusual thinking or behaviors that concern other people. Mental disorders can be treated: If you are unsure where to go for help, ask your family doctor or visit NIMH’s Help for Mental Illnesses webpage.
Can depression cause frailty?
In older adults, depression may be disregarded as frailty, or it may be viewed as an inevitable result of life changes, chronic illness, and disability.
Is depression a part of growing older?
Depression is Not a Normal Part of Growing Older: This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage describes signs of depression and how depression can be different for older adults.
Does wisdom grow with age?
Wisdom also may grow with age, says Jeste, who believes that wisdom can manifest itself as qualities associated with resilience, such as control over one’s emotions, the ability to self-reflect, and the ability to accept different perspectives.
Is multigenerational activity helpful?
“Studies have shown that multigenerational activities are helpful for both generations,” says Jeste. He adds that younger people can benefit from the wisdom of older adults, who in turn can learn new things from and be energized by the younger crowd. (Just be sure to wear those masks!)
Is it important to keep up with the latest news?
Yes, keeping up with the latest news about what’s happening with the COVID-19 pandemic is important but don’t saturate yourself with sobering news. Find a few trusted news sources and tune in, says Vaughan. “Just don’t keep them on your TV all day.”
Can you manage depression on your own?
“You shouldn’t have to feel like you need to manage depression on your own,” says Vaughan. “Get support if you need it.” Those experiencing serious depressive symptoms may want to talk to their primary care practitioner about getting professional care. A range of interventions, such as therapy, can be highly effective, though getting an appointment during the pandemic can sometimes be difficult, due to surging demand.
How does the ageing affect society?
As the number of aged in our population is increasing, many of their traditional life sustaining and fostering influences have been eroding. Changes in society seem to leave them no meaningful social role either within the family or in the community. Often, the elderly are socially isolated, and many exist within the confines of a nursing home or an institution, where their main social links are only with other inmates and equally alienated old people.
What was the role of the elderly in colonial times?
Church seats were given to the old. The primary basis of the power enjoyed by the elderly in colonial times was their control of the property, especially productive property in farmland. In such an agricultural society, such control amounted to the ability to dominate all key institutions - the family, the church, the economy and the polity.
Why is ageing a social problem?
Hence, ageing can be considered as mainly a social problem leading to decline of mental health because of two factors: 1 Ageing is a direct problem for the segment of the population which is in that age category. The elderly suffer all consequences — physical and emotional — due to real or perceived alienation from family and society. 2 It is a social problem for the society as a whole because of the presence of old people, and their problems have profound effects upon the structure, functions and economy of the society.
What was the primary basis of the power enjoyed by the elderly in colonial times?
The primary basis of the power enjoyed by the elderly in colonial times was their control of the property, especially productive property in farmland. In such an agricultural society, such control amounted to the ability to dominate all key institutions - the family, the church, the economy and the polity.
How many elderly people are in institutional care?
In contrast, in high-income countries, 4-6% of elderly are in some sort of institutional care. Nevertheless, there are greater differences in provision and/or acceptance of institutional care in many countries due to factors like culture, economy, environment and demography.
Why are elderly people considered a social problem?
It is a social problem for the society as a whole because of the presence of old people, and their problems have profound effects upon the structure, functions and economy of the society.
Why is the Indian family structure disintegrating?
With the breakdown in the traditional joint family structure, where both young and old were absorbed with mutual harmony, Indian family structure is steadily undergoing the process of disintegration and nuclearisation. In addition, the elderly are not given the same respect, attention and care they used to get earlier. The above change may be due to limited assets and growth of ‘individualism’ in modern life. Thus, all these aspects lead to isolation of the elderly from family and social life. Even though elders feel capable of working and contributing to family resources, there are no outlets to absorb them.
How severe mental illness among seniors is as a problem
The CDC estimates that twenty percent of seniors have some kind of mental illness that is not a normal part of the aging process. These illnesses range from dementia and other cognitive impairment to depression and anxiety.
Why signs of mental health problems in seniors are often missed
Seniors face many challenges as they age. The loss of a spouse, the loss of friends, the onset of medical problems, and limited mobility all contribute to the likelihood of developing mental health problems. Coping with these challenges often changes seniors’ behavior in subtle ways.
How untreated mental health problems affect overall health
Untreated depression and anxiety wreak havoc on the human body. They increase the number of stress hormones in the bloodstream, which in turn elevate blood pressure and contribute to more inflammation throughout the body.
Signs and symptoms of mental health problems that need treatment
According to the CDC, someone who is depressed has feelings of sadness or anxiety that last for weeks at a time. He or she may also experience:
What to do about untreated mental health problems
It is essential to seek help when the signs and symptoms of a potential mental health problem are identified. Considering the large number of undiagnosed and untreated cases, family, friends, and healthcare workers will need to work together to prevent symptoms from turning into further illness.
Do prevalence statistics always tell the whole story?
On the other hand, if we can begin to recognize that prevalence statistics do not always tell the whole story—especially where marginalization and vulnerability are concerned—we can work on building a clearer picture of the relationship between mental health and aging and pave the way for prevention and intervention.
Do older people have mental health issues?
The persistent ideas that older people with mental health issues do not represent a large enough group to merit attention, and that older people do not experience mental health concerns beyond Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are dangerous notions with tangible consequences. If these beliefs endure, mental illnesses ...
What is the peak age of mental illness?
The peak age of onset of which mental illness occurs is adolescence and early adulthood.2The peak age of onset of physical illness occurs much later in the fifth to sixth decade of life. Clinically it means that younger patients with physical illness are relatively more likely to have co-existing psychological difficulties in comparison to older patients. It also means that on medical wards, younger patients are quite rare. Young people may feel at a loss in a medical service which mainly deals with older patients, and their unique needs could easily be overlooked.
What are the mental health problems of young people?
Rates of depression, suicidal behaviours, eating disorders and substance abuse have increased steadily among young people in recent decades. The mental health of young adults aged 16–24 years was summarised in the December 2014 report on the well-being of young people.1As a group, young adults were found to be more satisfied with their life than adults as a whole. They were also found to have lower levels of anxiety than older adults. However, the following statistics were reported:
What are the most common drugs used by young people?
Drugs used by young adults mainly include amphetamines, anabolic steroids, club drugs, cocaine, heroin, inhalants and prescription drugs. Recent statistics show that about 40% of young adults aged 16–24 years have used illicit substances at least once; these figures have remained stable over the past ten years. One in five young people reported use of illicit drugs within the previous year and one in ten within the previous month. Cannabis was used most often; its use has slowly declined throughout most of the decade. Young adults (16–24 year olds) are a vulnerable group for illicit substance use, as frequent drug use was reported as more than twice as high (7.3%) compared with 16–59 year olds (3.35%).19
Why are young adults prone to abnormal illness?
Abnormal illness behaviour in young adults may be a result of frequent admissions as children. This can skew the young adults approach to illness such that their reaction to ill health is ‘younger’ than their chronological age. Frequent admissions can encourage a dependence on the service, while endangering an under-reliance on self management. Multiple admissions may also create a strong bond with medical and nursing staff, who may become overprotective, furthering dependence in the young patient.
How do young people benefit from a holistic care plan?
Young adults often rely on their parents to pick up their prescriptions from the chemist and arrange their appointments. They may benefit from being seen in clinic with their parents. In psychiatric practice , involving carers and families is an important aspect of a holistic care plan. Often a history from an informant may add new important information on the symptoms of illness and compliance with medication. For physical practice, it is often the converse, where young people are seen with family members and, recognising the need to interview the young person on their own, as well as with an informant, is part of good practice.
Why is early intervention important in psychiatry?
Emerging evidence of the role of early treatment in order to prevent psychiatric disability has resulted in attempts to make psychiatric services more responsive to the needs of young people.6Recent years have seen the development of psychiatric services for ‘young people’; a shift from the previous service division of ‘children’ and ‘adults’. In some areas of the country, early intervention teams have been set up which specialise in young people with serious mental illness. These services are known as ‘youth services’ and cover a varying age range, eg 0–21 or 0–25 years, recognising that the previous method of delivering services did not help with treatment at the most vulnerable period in a young adult's life.
Which psychiatric condition has the highest mortality rate?
Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric condition. Approximately half of deaths are due to suicide and the other half mostly due to cardiac arrhythmias.
What are the factors that affect the aging process?
The connection was significant even after the researchers controlled for other factors that could potentially speed the aging process such as smoking, being overweight, low socioeconomic status, having a preexisting health condition, or a history of poor childhood health or maltreatment.
What are the most common diseases in late life?
As we age, our body’s repair mechanisms decline, contributing to multi-system impairment and diseases that are more common in late life, such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and brain diseases, such as dementia. But less is known about how early life experiences influence disease onset many years later.
Does biological aging cause mental health problems?
In the study published in JAMA Psychiatry, the researchers explored the idea that accelerated biological aging might drive the early onset of other health conditions in people who had previously experienced mental health problems.
Does mental illness affect aging?
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.
Is biological aging a network?
Increasing evidence suggests that biological aging is best understood as a network of interacting genetic and environmental factors.
The Problem
- The world’s population is ageing rapidly. Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world's older adults is estimated to almost double from about 12% to 22%. In absolute terms, this is an expected increase from 900 million to 2 billion people over the age of 60. Older people face special physical and mental health challenges which need to be recognized. Over 20% of adults …
Risk Factors For Mental Health Problems Among Older Adults
- 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 probl…
Dementia and Depression Among Older People as Public Health Issues
- Dementia
Dementia is a syndrome, usually of a chronic or progressive nature, in which there is deterioration in memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday activities. It mainly affects older people, although it is not a normal part of ageing. It is estimated that 50 million people wor… - Depression
Depression can cause great suffering and leads to impaired functioning in daily life. Unipolar depression occurs in 7% of the general older population and it accounts for 5.7% of YLDs among those over 60 years old. Depression is both underdiagnosed and undertreated in primary care se…
Treatment and Care Strategies to Address Mental Health Needs of Older People
- It is important to prepare health providers and societies to meet the specific needs of older populations, including: 1. training for health professionals in providing care for older people; 2. preventing and managing age-associated chronic diseases including mental, neurological and substance use disorders; 3. designing sustainable policies on long-term and palliative care; and …
Who Response
- WHO supports governments in the goal of strengthening and promoting mental health in older adults and to integrate effective strategies into policies and plans. The Global strategy and action plan on ageing and health was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2016. One of the objectives of this global strategy is to align the health systems to the needs of older populations…