An article by Manuel Martín Carrasco,
Psychiatrist, Medical Director of the Sisters Hospitallers centers in Navarra and the Basque Country,
vice president of the
and member of the Medical Expert Panel of
The concept of mental health refers to our emotional well-being, psychological and social. It affects the way we think, feel and act as we face life. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions. The mental health is important at all stages of life, but certainly As we age, it becomes more important..
Many older adults are at risk for mental health problems. But this does not mean that mental health problems are a normal part of aging. Studies show that most older adults are satisfied with their lives, even though they may have more illnesses or physical problems.
Mental health is important at all stages of life, but it certainly becomes more important as you get older.
It is estimated that 20% of people aged 55 and over experience some type of mental health problem. The most common disorders are anxiety disorders, cognitive impairment, and mood disorders, such as depressive disorders. With the exception of pictures of cognitive deterioration, the majority of people who present mental disorders in advanced ages had already presented these disorders previously, and it is usually a relapse; other times they are newly appearing pictures.
It is important to pay attention to the risk factors for the development of mental disorders in the elderly. It is a stage of life in which important changes can occur, such as the death of a loved one, retirement or serious illness. The loneliness or loss of personal autonomy they can also darken these years. Most seniors will eventually adjust to the changes. But some people will have more trouble overcoming them, which can put them at risk for mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
The prevention of the most common mental illnesses It means addressing the risk factors for presenting mental health problems in advanced ages, such as chronic illnesses, physical disabilities, and improvement in the process of requesting help (such as, for example, combating social stigmatization), the detection early and timely intervention, before mental health problems arise.
In turn, the mental health problems are related to a poor evolution of other health problemsespecially if they are chronic. We must remember the principle of the World Health Organization: “There is no health without mental health”.
A paradigmatic example of the interrelation between the psychic and the physical is depression; People who suffer from it have a higher risk of a torpid course of cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, etc. And of course, the Depression is the leading cause of suicide in older people. Older men have the highest completed suicide rate of any age group, which is primarily related to the lethality of the methods chosen.
Therefore, it is very important to recognize and properly treat mental disorders in older adults. Some signs that can warn us of the presence of mental disorders in older people are the following:
- Changes in mood or energy level
- Changes in eating or sleeping habits, by default or excess
- Tendency to isolate and leave activities you enjoy
- Emotional changes; for example, feeling confused, angry, irritable, worried, or scared
- feel like nothing matters
- Poorly explained somatic pain and discomfort
- Feeling sad or hopeless
- Excessive smoking, drinking, or drug use
- Show anger, irritability or aggressiveness
- Having thoughts that you can’t get out of your head
- Hearing voices or being convinced of things that are not true
- Thinking about harming yourself or others
In the event that one or more of these symptoms appear, the possibility of a mental disorder must be assessed and acted accordingly. Above all, it is important if these symptoms have an important functional repercussion and if they cause significant discomfort to the person suffering from them or to those around them. In this case, it seems obligatory to seek professional help as soon as possible.
However, it should be noted that older people also have a number of protective factors against mental disorders, factors that would be important to promote or strengthen. A healthy life stylea safe and consistent environmentthe active participation within society and the community, they are important protective factors for mental well-being in later life.
However, above all, the support from families, peers and caregivers plays a key role in promoting the mental health of older people. The loneliness and isolation prevention It is one of the strategies with the greatest potential to promote mental health and well-being in the elderly. These measures are also important for improve physical health and healthy aging.