More than 20 per cent of people over the age of 60 suffer from some mental health or neurological problem. The most common mental and neurological disorders in old age are dementia, depression, and anxiety.

The biggest problem with psychiatric disorders in older people is that they are often misidentified, not only by the patient and their relatives but also by health professionals, as the symptoms overlap with physical illnesses. In addition, older people suffering from psychiatric disorders are reluctant to confess the symptoms of their illness or to see a psychiatrist because of the stigma that still surrounds mental illness.

Currently, between 10 and 15 per cent of older people suffer from depression, and around 10 per cent have an anxiety disorder or other mental problem. Physical illness or personal loss also plays an important role in the development of mental illness in old age.

Most people over 60 years of age tend to ignore the symptoms of mental illness and only seek professional help when a critical point is reached. It is useful to know that depression and anxiety disorders in the elderly are common medical conditions that can be treated. Having a strong social network and good relationships with family and friends helps to promote good mental health for older people.

Risk factors for mental illness

Older people often suffer from stressors that lead to isolation, loneliness and psychological distress (loss of a partner, financial problems, illness, loss of mobility, etc.). In many cases, these factors are the germ and trigger of mental disorders in the elderly.

In addition, they are also vulnerable to physical, verbal, psychological and economic abuse. They are often neglected or ignored in a negligent manner by those around them. Current statistics show that one in ten older people suffers some form of abuse, which can lead to serious psychological problems that can result in depression or anxiety.

So, what mental health issues are common in the elderly population? Let’s quickly look at them.

Depression

Depression is the most common psychological disorder in old age. It is characterised by a pessimistic view of the future and low self-esteem. It can sometimes be associated with other symptoms such as weight loss, anorexia, constipation and insomnia.

Anxiety

Anxiety is characterised by a fearful state in which the sufferer anticipates that something bad is going to happen, although he or she does not know what it is that he or she is afraid of. Anxiety is accompanied by physical sensations such as muscle tension, palpitations or excessive sweating. Anxious reactions often stem from a feeling of helplessness in the face of life.

Dementia

Dementia is a syndrome, chronic or progressive in nature, associated with memory loss and deterioration of thinking and behaviour, which prevents people from performing the simplest tasks of everyday life. Currently, approximately 50 million people worldwide (mostly older people) have dementia.

Suicide risk

Although it is not widely known at the popular level, older people are at a higher risk of attempting suicide. The causes that lead an older person to suicide are diverse: loss of a partner, family or friends, financial insecurity, feelings of loneliness and rejection, reaction to physical or mental illness.

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) is a serious mental illness that causes people to have intense mood swings, be aggressive and have an attention span of only a few minutes.

DMDD does not cause the sufferer to do or say anything evil or sinister but nonetheless leads them into behaving irrationally or antisocially. It can cause people to act impulsively and violently against others who may be innocent bystanders. DMDD patients tend to believe that their emotions are manipulative and they may feel persecuted by these emotions relentlessly.


This disorder is difficult to diagnose as it is not specific in when it manifests, and it can show suddenly or gradually. It is also difficult to treat as it is complex and requires medication, which in turn can have side effects.

Most people have different answers as to why mental health issues are not addressed with the elderly. It is crucial that mental health in the elderly is critical. While they seem forgotten, it shouldn’t be the case.

It is important to prepare family members, caregivers, health care workers and society, in general, to address the elderly mental health problems properly.

Mental health problems in elderly often forces the family to take on the role of the caregiver before health personnel and institutions intervene. This generates much suffering, especially when the dependency situation of the loved one exceeds the capacity of the family as a whole to adapt to the care needs. In this situation, having a caregiver service to take on the task of providing the best care for our loved ones is essential.

The mental health of older adults can be improved by promoting active and healthy ageing. Promoting the mental health of the elderly requires creating living conditions and an environment conducive to wellbeing, enabling older people to enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

The promotion of mental health involves establishing strategies to ensure that older people have the resources to meet their basic needs, such as:

• Adequate housing adapted to their needs

• Support and assistance for older people's mental health and carers

• Health programmes for vulnerable groups

• Programmes to prevent violence and abuse of the elderly

At the medical level, it is essential to establish a rapid diagnosis, which allows the appropriate pathology treatment to be tackled with a guarantee of success.

Primary care and diagnosis of mental illness are essential for immediate treatment. It is also very important to focus on the long-term care of older people with mental disorders and to provide their relatives and caregivers with sufficient information, so they know how to manage the treatment required.

The ageing societies are facing the challenge to support older people through their formative years in a manner that will increase their ability to meet the challenges of later life. There is a need to develop strategies and policies in line with such developments. By understanding these conditions, you can effectively help your elderly loved one keep the mental health problems at bay.