WISCONSIN UNITED
for MENTAL HEALTH

10 Facts About Mental Health and Aging

1.  Mental illness is not a normal part of aging.

• While older adults may experience many losses, deep sadness that lingers may signal clinical depression. Similarly, and anxiety disorder is different from normal worries.
• One in five Americans has a diagnosable mental disorder during any one year.
• About 5 percent of older adults have a diagnosable depressive illness and another 14 percent have significant symptoms of depression; 11 percent of adults over age 55 have an anxiety disorder.
  
  

• 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.
• Some mental illnesses, like depression, may have physical symptoms, such as pain.
• And the symptoms of some physical illnesses can be confused for mental illnesses.
• Research shows mental illness can slow healing from physical illnesses.

• While some adults go through life managing a chronic mental illness, mental illness also can appear late in life.
• Sometimes mental health deteriorates in response to a stroke, Parkinson's disease, cancer, arthritis or diabetes, and
• even medications for some physical illnesses.
• Older adults without a history of substance abuse may abuse medications, alcohol or drugs.

• Seniors mental health and substance abuse problems are often unreported and often undetected
• Unfortunately, primary care physicians fail to diagnose depression 50 percent of the time.
• Only half of older adults who discuss specific mental health problems with a physician receive any treatment.

• Changes in body chemistry, family, friendships and living situations can all impact mental health and need to be considered in treatment.
• Sometimes helping solve basic problems, like transportation, can lower stress, improve community connections, and improve outlook and mood.
• If older adults take many medications for illnesses, drug interactions and side effects can change mood and behavior.

• Older adults have the highest suicide rate in the country. Those aged 85 and over have the highest suicide rate; those aged 75-84 have the second highest.
• Older adults' suicide attempts are more lethal. For those 65 and older, there is one suicide for every four attempts compared to one suicide for every 20 attempts for all other age groups.

• Sadness that has lasted longer than two weeks;
• Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex
• Feeling helpless, hopeless or worthless
• Consistent worries about issues such as money, family, and health;
• Consistent trouble sleeping, eating, concentrating or making decisions;
• Frequent trouble remembering things or feeling confused in familiar places;
• Have more than one alcoholic drink a day or take more medication than prescribed.
• Thoughts that the world would be better off without you, of suicide, acts of giving away your possessions

• Eighty percent of older adults recovered from depression after receiving treatment that included both psychotherapy and anti-depressant medication.

• Medicare and most private health insurance plans discriminate against mental illness. For example, Medicare covers 80 percent of a physical health problem but only 50 percent of a mental health problem. This is a significant barrier to treatment.

• Reading, walking and socializing are just a few of the activities that individuals can enjoy at any age.
• Exercising your mind and body and maintaining social connections are good for your mental health, too!