Mental health as we get older – it’s never too late to seek support | Blog

As another year passes and as International Older Persons Day approaches on October 1^st, it's a good time to acknowledge the importance of looking after our mental health as much as our physical health, especially as we get older.

Mental health and physical health go hand in hand and whilst there can sometimes be a tendency to have a stiff upper lip attitude about seeking support, it's important to recognise that everyone faces their own challenges and that we should treat getting support for our mental health, just as we would seek help with our physical health.

Yet we know there is still a reluctance.

This is despite research suggesting the number of older adults reporting symptoms of low mood has doubled since the pandemic, and a third of older adults are feeling more anxious than before.

It's important to remember that seeking help is a demonstration of strength, not weakness.

If you or someone you know is feeling down, it's crucial to reach out for support.

Feeling low or worried doesn't have to be a part of growing older

Feeling low, anxious, worried or depressed can often be dismissed as a normal part of ageing, but that's simply not true. These feelings are not a natural part of ageing and with the right support, they can all be treated.  If anything, feelings of anxiety, worry or low mood are a sign that you're probably not feeling like yourself.

We would encourage anyone feeling out of sorts to make contact with us, as we are here to help. NHS Talking Therapies can make a huge difference in being able to lead a full and enjoyable life again.

As we get older there can be lots of different reasons for not feeling yourself - and sometimes, there might be no reason at all. But there are some common contributing factors that can affect our mental health as we get older:

 Physical health concerns or living with a long-term health condition

 Adjusting to retirement

 Bereavement

 Poverty or worries about money

 Experiencing loneliness and isolation

 Caring responsibilities

All of these circumstances, physical changes and life events mean it is very common to feel worried, stressed, anxious or to experience low mood.  However, it does not mean you shouldn't be able to enjoy your life.

I'm not sure talking therapies will be helpful

At Norfolk and Waveney Talking Therapies our friendly and skilled team are here to support you and to understand what is happening.

By talking to them about how you feel, they will help you work out how to deal with negative thoughts and feelings and make positive changes.

Our support can:

Help with motivation to make positive changes to improve your quality of life

Help you to come to terms with changes in your life, such as retirement, physical changes and life circumstances

Is it too late to seek support for my mental health and start therapy?

It's never too late to seek help with your mental health. Seeking therapy as you get older can provide invaluable support in helping to adjust to life changes or physical health challenges.  It will equip you with all the practical tools and coping strategies needed to help improve your everyday life.

Of course, it would also be easy to assume that therapy isn't suited to you if you're older, and to perhaps assume that young people might benefit more.

Therefore, it might be surprising to hear that people aged 65+ have higher recovery rates from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) using an NHS Talking Therapies service like Wellbeing, than those who are younger.

So how do I know if I'm feeling out of sorts?

We have outlined some questions below to help anyone reading this (or perhaps someone you are supporting or caring for) to identify if there are mental health challenges that need addressing.

Try and answer the below as honestly as you can and think about how you are feeling.

In the last two weeks (or more), have you

Had little interest or pleasure in doing things recently?

Been feeling down, depressed or hopeless?

Been feeling nervous, anxious or on edge?

Been unable to stop or control worrying?

If you have answered  Yes  to any of the above, you may benefit from some NHS Talking Therapies support and we are here to help you. We would encourage you to get in touch with us so we can have a chat with you about how you are feeling.

This conversation with you (what we call an assessment) helps us to understand what sort of help would be best for the particular problem/s you are facing. We can then discuss options for you to consider such as one-to-one sessions with one of our team.

You can choose to receive support from us by phone, face-to-face or online (Microsoft Teams),  our support is confidential, compassionate and there is no charge for any of our services.

Ultimately, the support we provide can help improve your enjoyment of life.

In this video, Jacqui talks about her experience with the Wellbeing Service and how, with our support, her life has changed: