Booklet Advises Older People on Mental Health

A new booklet aimed at the over 60s and those coming up to retirement has been published by the Mental Health Foundation. The booklet contains ten useful tips for avoiding depression and other mental health problems in older ages the transition to retirement is a very stressful time for many older people and this is when depression can set in.

Toby Williamson, Head of Development and Later Life at the Mental Health Foundation said: "Currently around one in four people aged over 65 suffer symptoms of mental illness, mostly depression".

One significant contributory cause of depression in older people is that sometimes there is diminished ability to solve problems.

However, the Mental Health Foundation seeks to dispel the belief that mental health problems are a part of ageing, and seeks to assist older adults to address their concerns in order to avoid suffering mental distress.

The ten tips include preparation for the inevitable changes, asking for help and being able to discuss problems and concerns.

Positive attitudes in older age help tremendously. For example when people are approaching their 80s it helps to remember the positive aspects of their lives, and to recall times when they felt things were going well for them.

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