Mental Health and Older People

Getting older brings its share of challenges, and at times you may find it difficult to stay mentally healthy and strong. If feelings like sadness or worry are preventing you from getting the most out of life, help and support is available.

Your mental health is a central part of your overall wellbeing. If you don't have good mental health, it's possible you also don't have good self-esteem or you don't feel confident and able to face life and its challenges. Being mentally healthy is important, not just so you can get through the day but so you can maintain healthy relationships with others, and appreciate life to the full. So, if you feel like your mental health is not as good as it could be, look for support before you reach a crisis point. Many older people have mental health issues at some point. This may be due to:

illness
frailty and loss of independence
grief and loss
financial stress
changing living arrangements
increasing social isolation

There are plenty of things you can do to improve your mental health and wellbeing. They include:

eating well
getting enough sleep
exercising regularly
spending time with friends and family
sharing feelings with others
doing enjoyable and relaxing activities
volunteering and helping others

Find out more here about tips for good mental health and tips for managing stress and staying well. By doing some of these things, you’re giving yourself the best chance of staying mentally healthy. But if despite your best efforts, you are still struggling, it’s a good idea to get some professional support.