Mental health doesn’t retire
October 10 is World Mental Health Day. This year’s theme from the World Federation for Mental Health, Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change, is about listening to people who’ve been there.
For a lot of older adults, that kind of conversation doesn’t come easily. Many of us grew up at a time when you didn’t talk about your feelings, you just got on with it. And when a parent, partner, or friend in their 70s seems quieter or more withdrawn than usual, it’s easy to shrug and say, “Well, that’s getting older.”
That shrug can get in the way. Research summarized on the Portal estimates that depression affects more than 13% of older adults around the world. It doesn’t always look like sadness, either. Sometimes it shows up as tiredness, poor sleep, or losing interest in things that used to bring joy.
The encouraging part? There’s a lot you can do, and much of it fits into everyday life.
1. Stay connected, even in small ways.
A phone call with a grandchild, a coffee with a neighbour, a regular card game. These moments add up. Research suggests that home-based strategies to build social connection may help reduce loneliness and depressive symptoms in older adults. Not sure where you stand? Our quick lesson, Social isolation: Are you at risk?, can help you take stock.
2. Make something, or simply take it in.
A recent review of 41 studies with nearly 3,800 older adults found that group art-based programs may reduce depressive symptoms. Music, dance, and visual arts all showed promise. Here’s what we love about this one: you don’t have to be “artistic.” Listening to a community choir or touring a gallery with a group seemed to help, too, not just painting or performing yourself.
3. Try gentle movement with a mindful twist.
Tai chi and qigong blend slow movement, breathing, and focus. A review of 31 studies with about 2,500 adults aged 60 and over found these practices may ease symptoms of both depression and anxiety. The benefits seemed strongest when people kept at it regularly over several months, so think of it as a routine, not a one-off class. Many community centres and seniors’ programs offer beginner sessions.
4. Say it out loud.
This is the heart of this year’s World Mental Health Day theme. Telling someone how you’re really doing, whether that’s a friend, a family member, or your health care provider, can open the door to support. There are several options for treating depression and anxiety, including talk therapies and medication, and a health care provider can help you weigh what’s right for you. Our lesson on anxiety disorders is a good place to start if worry has been taking up more space than it should.
Mental health isn’t something we age out of caring about. This World Mental Health Day, check in with yourself, and with the people around you. Sometimes the most helpful thing you can say is, “How are you really doing?”
McMaster Optimal Aging Blog Posts are written by faculty, staff, PhD students, and external collaborators, and are assessed for accuracy by members of the Portal scientific leadership team.
DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).