What Is Stigma in Mental Health and Why It Matters for Aging Adults

What's the best way for you to look after your mental health, and how will that change as you age? A study from the World Health Organization claims that about 14% of senior adults battle a mental disorder, ranging from dementia to depression. But what is stigma in mental health, and how does the mental health awareness seniors experience impact their mental health?

Camby is a perfect township for anyone looking for a quiet, family-friendly spot to spend their retirement. Our town has a sense of community that helps to highlight our clean environment, peaceful atmosphere, and quick access to the amenities of larger cities. Whether you're here for the peace and quiet or the short commute to the big city, we're happy to have you.

If you're curious about stigma and aging, we're here to help. Read on for a quick overview of senior behavioral wellness.

What Is Stigma In Mental Health?

But what is stigma in mental health? Stigma is a negative idea of something, often based on ignorance. You can think of a stigma as a negative bias.

This stigma is mostly generational. Younger generations see mental illness and health differently and have dutifully combated the stigma. Older generations still have a tendency to believe that mental illnesses don't exist!

As a result, it's less common for seniors to feel comfortable reaching out about mental health. According to an article in Health In Aging, seniors have a higher likely to ignore mental health conditions. The result is worsening mental conditions that never get the right attention.

Stigma's Origins

What causes this stigma? We know that it's mostly generation-based, but why do seniors find mental health to be something that should be kept quiet, if addressed at all?

According to a study in Mental Health in Family Medicine, older generations tend to see mental health as a sign of weakness. As a result, they're more likely to believe that reaching out for assistance is to show weakness.

Another factor to consider is that many seniors fear losing their independence. Some are concerned that raising an alarm over their mental health may lead to people restricting them.

These concerns are often lessened by helpful living arrangements. Browse our assisted living offerings to see how assisted living support will help you focus on your independence.

Links With Mental Health Conditions

Some also don't consider the links between neurological issues and mental health. Many people instead see these as an expected sign of aging.

Unfortunately, these opinions often have an ageist bias to them. Senior mental health should not be discarded as something to be expected and accepted.

Instead, we should raise awareness of these stigmas in older adults to ensure that people understand these are conditions that deserve attention. We must understand that these mental health conditions are not something to resign to, but are treatable.

Stigma and Aging

How negative is the effect of this stigma? How much does this impact the mental health of seniors?

Sadly, stigma has a huge impact on our seniors. The main issue is that this stigma makes it so that seniors refuse to reach out for assistance. They are, instead, under the misunderstanding that poor mental health is a sign of weakness.

As a result, there is a barrier between proper communication and the health of seniors. Many choose to try to deal with it themselves. That leads to fewer people willing to speak out.

Those issues grow to feelings of isolation due to the senior not feeling valued. Experiencing such isolation only worsens the mental health of a senior who's already struggling with their health.

According to Psychiatry.org, there are many other symptoms at play. Some of these are:

Lowered self-esteem
Struggling in personal lives, as well as professional lives
A lessened feeling of hope
Increased symptoms of existing conditions

How to Combat the Stigma

Now that we understand why we have to beat the stigma, how can we do so? While it seems impossible, we have many ways to fight back. Here are our main ways to fight the stigma.

Educate the Elderly

The first step is to work on educating people about the stigma and mental health facts. Many seniors are the ones who need such education the most, as the stigma is largely from seniors toward each other.

One main factor in this is the misunderstanding of mental health and neurological conditions like dementia. The belief that these conditions are an expected part of aging has led to them not getting the attention and care they deserve.

Removing this stigma starts with educating seniors. Finding the best emotional care Camby can offer will help you with battling these issues.

Many communities offer activities that focus on mental health awareness as well. Browse our upcoming activities to see what we're offering!

Highlight Empathy

It's an unfortunate reality that some approach mental health with an "out of sight, out of mind" mentality. For a condition like depression or anxiety, which isn't visible on the surface, this can cause many issues. Having empathy and understanding for someone's struggles is the best fix.

Help Highlight Treatment

Finally, it's vital that we encourage seniors to seek treatment and care. Doing so will help them to understand that there's nothing to be ashamed of or afraid of. While this seems like a monumental step, it's the most important one of all.

Understanding Mental Health Awareness in Seniors

What is stigma in mental health, and how can we end it? The stigma against mental health convinces seniors that mental health should be hidden. We can battle it by raising awareness, having empathy for our loved ones, and encouraging treatment.

At Worthington Place Assisted Living, we're proud to offer the best emotional care in Camby. Our residents engage in exercise classes, pet therapy, karaoke, and even outings to our local apple orchard! No matter what brings you to us, we're proud to bring a shine to your golden years.