Elderly 'suffering mental health pandemic'
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By Caroline Davies
Last Updated: 3:10am BST 13/08/2007

Britain's elderly are in the grip of a mental health crisis with more
than 3.5 million older people suffering depression or dementia,
according to a report.

Case study: Stephen Townsend, 84, says health treatment of elderly
people is a ‘Cinderella’ service

The startling figures show the scale of mental health problems in the
over-65s is far greater than previously thought.

Suicide rates among those over 75 have risen alarmingly, especially
among women.

Experts warn unless prompt Government action is taken the number of
those suffering mental health problems will rise by a third in the next
15 years.

The disturbing analysis is released today by the UK Inquiry into Mental
Health and Well-Being in Later Life, involving experts from the London
School of Economics, the Royal College of Nursing and the charity Age
Concern.

According to the study, up to 2.6 million older people - one in four of
those over 65 and two in five of those over 85 - are suffering from
depression or serious symptoms of depression. Meanwhile, one in five
people over 80 suffers from dementia.
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Describing it as a "mental health pandemic", the report claims that
these are the "invisible" people whose problems are often caused by
loneliness, long-term illness and lack of independence.

Many avoid seeking help because of a perceived stigma. Those that do
seek help often receive inferior treatment and have their symptoms put
down to age.

Of those suffering depression, two thirds have never discussed it with
their GPs, and of the third that do only half are eventually diagnosed
and treated. That means just 15 per cent are treated.

Women over 75 are more likely to take their own lives compared to women
in any other age group, the report stated, and men over 75 have the
second-highest suicide rates of all men.

The inquiry calls for a Government task force to be set up by 2008 to
tackle the problem. "There is no time to waste. As our population ages,
we must ensure that the number of older people who suffer mental health
problems are minimised," it says.

"The majority of older people with mental health problems do not receive
services. We need to shift our attention to them, to ensure they are
supported by loved ones and enabled to care for themselves - by design,
not by accident or neglect."

The study predicts that unless there are effective interventions, 3.5
million older people will have symptoms of depression and almost one
million will have dementia by 2021.

It states that the Department of Health framework for mental health
services has so far focused only on people up to 65. Those over that age
receive lower-cost and inferior services to younger people, even if they
have the same condition.

Dr June Crown, the chairman of the inquiry said: "Mental health problems
in later life are often preventable and treatable, and action to improve
the lives of older people who experience mental health difficulties is
long overdue."

Ivan Lewis, a junior health minister, said: "This report raises
fundamental questions for the NHS, care system, families and all
communities."

Key recommendations

• Set up a high-level Government task force by 2008.

• Eliminate age discrimination in mental health services.

• Support older people and their carers to help themselves and each other.

• Ensure suicide prevention strategies identify older people as a priority.

• Challenge stigma, ageism and defeatism.

• Improve housing, health and social care services.

• Overturn years of under-funding in older people's mental health services.