There was a great piece in the Washington Post on the crossroads of mental illness, stigma, and ageism. Older adults are sometimes more likely than younger adults or adolescents to develop depression and are among the highest group in terms of suicide rates. The factors involved are extremely complex: changing health, roles, and life situation; complications from medication and medical procedures; and dealing with loss of friends, family, and confronting thoughts of one’s own death. Add stigma for seeking treatment for psychological issues, which can be more pronounced for older adults, and ageism in terms of services for this population, and the result is a disturbing brew. Part of the solution appears to be providing better training for practitioners working with older adults, but as the population continues to age there will soon be an even greater deficit of professionals to serve them. I think practitioners volunteering some time could help alleviate the problem, but the biggest piece may rest on friends and family being able to recognize and help their loved ones in need find adequate treatment.
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 7 Jul 2006
