17 August 2007
More than 3.5 million older people suffer from mental health problems and are not receiving the services they need, it was claimed this week.
The final report of the UK Inquiry into Mental Health and Wellbeing in Later Life found that mental health problems affect many more older people than previously thought.
A total of 2.6 million older people have depression. That means that one in four people over the age of 65 and two in five people over 85 suffer from the condition. One in five people over the age of 80 has dementia. Women aged over 75 are more likely to commit suicide than any other age group, and men over 75 have the second highest suicide rate of all men in the UK.
But the August 13 report said that older people with mental health needs are often ignored by services and receive little support. It warned that, without a major policy shift, the number of older people with depression will rise to 3.5 million by 2021 and 5 million by 2051. The number of those with dementia was also likely to double.
Dr June Crown, who chaired the inquiry, said services were inadequate in range, quantity and quality. '[Mental health problems] are often preventable and treatable, and action to improve the lives of older people who experience mental health difficulties is long overdue,' she said.
'The neglect of older people's mental health needs represents a waste of human potential that we simply cannot afford.'
The inquiry made 35 recommendations, which included an end to age discrimination in mental health services, more preventative work and improved housing, health and social care services.
Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern, which supported the inquiry, said the findings were unequivocal. 'Years of ignorance, discrimination and under-funding must be overturned. The inquiry shows the true scale of the problems,' he said.
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