Aged do not get help for mental health as it is a ‘private matter’

PENSIONERS are reluctant to seek mental health treatment because they believe it to be a “private matter”, a charity has warned.

People aged 65 and over make up just six per cent of NHS talking therapy patients in England, suggesting a need for more options and support for those experiencing issues in later life.

The research, published today by Independent Age, the older people’s charity, found that there were “some unique barriers” that this age group faced when it came to accessing support for their mental health.

Researchers said: “A number of people we heard from felt their mental health was a ‘private matter’, or they ‘didn’t want to worry anyone’ and this stopped them from talking about it.

“Others felt there was ‘no point’ discussing it because ‘there is nothing anyone can do’, or felt that stigma still existed.” Another barrier was simply “a lack of awareness of talking therapies”, with nearly half of those polled (46 per cent) aged over 65 unaware that this was an option on the NHS.

“So, either people in later life aren’t sharing their feelings, or they are but when they do they’re not aware of the support available and are not signposted to it,” the researchers warned.

In its Minds That Matter report, Independent Age said the six per cent figure was too low given the age profile of the population – with 18 per cent aged 65 and older – as well as the prevalence of mental health conditions in society. The poll found that one in four people believed that poor mental health was a normal part of getting older, and said “too many people feel they have to ‘put up’ with issues like feeling depressed or anxious”. It also found that three quarters (75 per cent) of people aged 65 and older said they had experienced significant anxiety or low mood at least once since turning 65, with one in 10 saying they felt this frequently or all the time.

Only 12 per cent believed that “older people are given the support they need to manage their mental health”. The charity is calling on the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to conduct a review.

Deborah Alsina MBE, its chief executive, said: “Covid-19 has brought extra challenges around bereavement, but we’ve also seen an increase in mental health problems such as depression and anxiety – in fact, ONS statistics show that rates of depression have doubled for people aged over 70. This is an urgent problem.”