More than 40% of seniors with chronic disease are unlikely to seek mental health support, but a first visit seems to reduce such reluctance, according to a new Australian study.
Despite frequent contact with the healthcare system, reluctant seniors were more likely to be skeptical about the benefits of mental healthcare, reported psychologist Claire Adams. Such seniors also felt that they lacked the support or ability to access services.
In addition, mental health problems may be difficult to self-identify in older adults with chronic disease, theorized Adams, of Edith Cowan University in Perth. Overlaps between mental health symptoms, physical symptoms and the side-effects of medication can complicate matters, she explained.
“This is concerning because this group of people are significantly more likely to experience anxiety and depression than older adults without chronic disease,” she said.
But the study also showed that seniors who had accessed mental health services in the past were more likely to continue doing so.
“We need to help people living with chronic disease manage their disease and also live relatively happy lives. One way of doing that is to encourage them to seek help if they need it,” Adams concluded.
A three-minute presentation of this thesis study is available on YouTube.
