The World Health Organization’s definition of mental health:
Mental health is not just the absence of mental disorder. It is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.
The world’s population is ageing and soon there will be a higher number of older adults than children. Globally, there are currently more than 800 million people over the age of 60, a figure that is expected to increase to two billion by 2050.
Some of the common mental disorders seen in older adults are:
Dementia
Dementia is a syndrome affecting a person’s memory, cognitive function and behaviour. Dementia leads to difficulties performing simple everyday activities such as cooking, washing and dressing. Dementia can affect younger people but those over the age of 60 account for the majority of cases.
A report by the WHO and the Alzheimer Disease Association International in 2012 suggests around five percent of people over 60 are affected by dementia, while the total number of people affected is expected to double every 20 years. There is no cure for dementia, but much can be done to reduce the difficulties that people with dementia face by providing support and long-term care.
Depression
According to the WHO, depression is ‘a sustained sadness and loss of interest along with psychological, behavioral and physical symptoms.’ Depression is a relatively common issue for people of all ages, but those over 60 are particularly vulnerable.
A range of issues typically affecting older people, including poor physical health and loss of independence, may contribute to depression.
Depression can be difficult to diagnose, especially if the individual does not seek help. If left untreated, depression can contribute to other health problems and even suicide.
What can be done to improve mental health in older adults?
Changing attitudes
Improving the mental health of older adults depends heavily on promoting active and healthy ageing, enabling people to remain mobile and independent while at the same time having a sense of worth.
Ageist attitudes that consider older people to be frail, mentally and physically weak, unproductive and dependent need to be reversed. These views act as barriers between the younger generations and leave older people feeling isolated.
Identifying the causes
Primary health and community care providers need to be aware of the underlying factors that contribute to mental health issues in older people. These factors must be identified and addressed in order to prevent mental health issues developing.
Promoting healthy habits
Encouraging people to live healthy lifestyles from an early age – regular exercise, healthy eating, frequent mental stimulation and the avoidance of alcohol and smoking - can lead to better mental health in older adults. People who are physically healthy are less likely to suffer from mental health issues than those with poor physical health.
Caring for the caregivers
Older adults with poor mental health often rely on caregivers to help them with the daily activities they can no longer do for themselves. The caregivers vary depending on each person’s situation and may typically be a family member, friend or healthcare worker.
It is fundamentally important that caregivers are fully informed about the specific needs of the people they are caring for to enable them to provide the most effective care and support. The role of a caregiver is very demanding and carers (particularly those looking after people full time) commonly feel the burden of their responsibilities and experience high levels of stress and depression. Providing support to caregivers allows them to feel valued and enables them to fulfill their care role to their best ability.
If you are concerned about your own, or someone else’s, mental health, please contact Hamad Medical Corporation’s Mental Health Department on 4438 4573 / 4438 4599
Contributed by Hamad Medical Corporation
