As people age, their mental health often decline. In old age, mental health is not shaped only by physical and social environments but also by the cumulative impacts of earlier life experiences and specific stressors related ageing. While mental health are not part of aging many older people are at risk for them. Elderly people are likely to experience stressful events such as drop in income, reduced sense of purpose with retirement and bereavement which can lead to psychological stress. The most common mental health conditions for elderly people are depression and anxiety. Mental health conditions among older people are often underrecognized and undertreated, and the stigma surrounding it can make people reluctant to seek help. Recognizing the signs and symptoms is the first step towards getting help and below are the symptoms and signs of mental illness in the elderly people
Signs of mental illness in the elderly people
- Anger and irritability
- Suicidal thoughts
- feeling hopelessness
- change in sleep patterns
- change in eating habits
- having unexplained pain and aches
- hearing things or seeing things that are not there
Ways to improve mental health
- exercising regularly
- getting enough sleep
- eating well
- spending time with your loved ones
- setting up achievable goals