What challenges do you face as you grow older? According to the World Health Organization, 14% of senior adults have a mental disorder of some kind. These range from memory-related issues like dementia to more emotion-focused disorders like depression.
Mission, KS, is an ideal area to live if you’re focusing on your mental health. Our town is nicely situated between Kansas City and Johnson County, giving you an easy commute to the locations you’d like to visit. Our town’s focus on vibrant, small-town living provides you with a relaxing and calm home life.
What is stigma in mental health, and what can we do to help our seniors overcome it? If you’re curious about senior mental health awareness, we’re here to help. Read on for a quick overview of mental wellness in aging.
What is Stigma in Mental Health?
The first thing to cover is what a stigma actually is. A stigma is a negative idea about something, often born out of ignorance. Stigmas differ from prejudice by usually being widespread rather than individual.
According to a study in Health In Aging, seniors are significantly less likely to speak about mental health than younger generations. There are several reasons for this, mostly down to the culture of how the different generations approach mental health.
The Cause of the Stigma
What is causing the stigma against mental health in seniors? Dominantly, this is a cultural difference. Many seniors grew up not focusing on mental health, while younger generations have focused heavily on the subject.
According to a study in Mental Health in Family Medicine, many seniors see mental health struggles as a sign of weakness. That misconception makes it so that they’re less likely to reach out regarding mental health.
Another factor is the fear of losing independence or concerning loved ones. Many seniors are worried that they may be forced into a different living arrangement if they speak out about mental health issues. For conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s, this is especially prevalent.
Some also don’t consider the ties between dementia and mental health. For many people, these conditions are seen as a standard and expected part of aging. That makes them easier to excuse or brush away.
Stigma’s Effect on Mental Health
What is the effect of stigma on the mental health of seniors? Does this stigma affect the healthy mindset seniors seek, or is it easy to overlook?
Unfortunately, this stigma has a significant and pronounced effect on seniors. Stigma and care access are particularly interwoven.
Shame is a main cause behind this effect. The negative connotation of stigma leads many seniors to refuse to reach out. Many seniors don’t feel comfortable discussing their mental health in order to avoid this shame.
The stigma, therefore, causes severe isolation for seniors who aren’t comfortable reaching out. For many, this will exacerbate the issue, as isolation and loneliness can compound depression and anxiety symptoms.
These feelings of isolation are caused by the stigma, yet they’re also harming the seniors. Isolation worsening the symptoms means that stigma is directly worsening the mental health of seniors.
According to Psychiatry.org, many other issues are present, such as:
- Reduced hope
- Low self-esteem
- Struggling in professional and personal endeavors
- Increased symptoms
- Difficulty maintaining personal connections
Working to undo the stigma around mental health in seniors can help us lessen these symptoms.
Combatting the Stigma of Mental Health
With a better understanding of the consequences, we can look at how to combat the stigma. What’s the best way to undo the stigma around mental health for seniors?
The battle against this stigma is difficult, as we’re working to undo cultural norms. Even worse, those cultural norms tend to come from seniors, making this battle one of both unlearning and education.
While this is a difficult battle, it’s far from one we can’t overcome. Here are the main ways to battle the stigma against mental health in seniors.
Educating Seniors on Mental Health
The first step is to educate those who are most likely to be affected by these issues. Seniors are most vulnerable to the stigma, naturally, but much of this is self-inflicted. Elderly people are the ones most likely to have this stigma, while younger people tend to understand.
Oftentimes, this is worsened by the belief that many neurological conditions are a normal, acceptable part of aging. Dementia care and other such conditions are brushed aside as an inevitable thing. Raising senior mental health awareness around these issues would help undo this.
Keeping Seniors Active
Staying active is also a great way to provide emotional support for aging seniors. Many of us live stagnant lives in our older age, often due to not being as physically capable as we used to be. Taking time to plan socializing can help you reduce loneliness and isolation.
Socializing will also help you to better understand these conditions. Spending time with people who suffer from mental disorders helps to humanize and personify the conditions. You can browse our activity calendar to see what events we’re offering.
Seeking Treatment for Mental Health
Helping seniors to seek treatment will help to remove the stigma. Though this is a daunting step, it’s also one of the quickest, easiest ways to see that there’s nothing to be ashamed of.
Staying active is another great way to improve your mental health. Browse our amenities to see how we help you stay active!
Working to Combat Stigma in Senior Mental Health
What is stigma in mental health, and how can we combat it? Stigma harms our seniors by isolating them and making them feel ashamed for having natural conditions. By educating ourselves and our senior communities, we can help to undo this stigma and provide emotional support for aging.
The Welstone At Mission Crossing is proud to offer a community that boosts the mental health of our residents. We provide a lively, active, independent living retirement community that nestles itself well into the idyllic, laid-back culture of Mission.
Whether you’re interested in our gourmet meals or our customizable wellness activities, we’re happy to have you. Schedule a tour to see how we can help your golden years shine.
