The Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health.
Older Adults and Mental Health.
Surgeon General David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., released a landmark report on mental health and mental illness in December 1999 - the first such report ever issued by a Surgeon General. The 500-page document, A Report of the Surgeon General, challenges the nation to focus on mental health as a public health issue and as an integral part of overall health. What follows are some of the conclusions reached on Older Adults and Mental Health.
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Continued intellectual, social, and physical activity throughout the life cycle are important for the maintenance of mental health in late life.
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Stressful life events, such as declining health and/or the loss of mates, family members, or friends often increase with age. However, persistent bereavement or serious depression is not "normal" and should be treated.
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Normal aging is not characterized by mental or cognitive disorders. Mental or substance use disorders that are present alone or co-occur should be recognized and treated as illnesses.
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Disability due to mental illness in individuals over 65 years old will become a major public health problem in the near future because of demographic changes. In particular, dementia, depression, and schizophrenia, among other conditions, will all present special problems in this age group:
1. Dementia produces significant dependency and is a leading contributor to the need for costly long-term care in the last years of life.
2. Depression contributes to the high rates of suicide among males in this population.
3. Schizophrenia continues to be disabling in spite of recovery of function by some individuals in mid to late life.
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There are effective interventions for most mental disorders experienced by older persons (i.e, depression and anxiety).
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Treating older adults with mental disorders accrues other benefits to overall health by improving the interest and ability of individuals to care for themselves and follow their primary care provider's direction and advice, particularly about taking medications.
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Primary care practitioners are a critical link in identifying and addressing mental disorders in older adults. Opportunities are missed to improve mental health and general medical outcomes when mental illness is under-recognized and under-treated in primary care settings.
This information is provided to you by the Senior Bridges program at Northern Nevada Medical Center. To contact this program call 775-356-1279 or 356-4071.
