Dismissed and Overlooked - Depression and Anxiety Aren't a Normal Part of Ageing

Mental health issues in older hoi polloi are often overlooked and dismissed equally "just a part of the ageing process".

However, with that attitude, many mental health issues are missed – especially when in that respect is more focus on on individual physical wellbeing. This can lead to bad quality of life and increasing ill health for old people.

The myth that economic crisis and anxiety are a normal take off of getting older is a damaging one –  and something that needs to be corrected.

Signs of sadness, lack of pursuit in usual activities or hobbies, or multiethnic withdrawal are often wrongly attributed to the ageing litigate itself. But Justine Irving, Applied Gerontology lecturer at Matthew Flinders University, suggests this is non the case.

"Low and anxiety are not normal at whatsoever stage of life, including our tardive years," says Irving.

"Although slump and anxiousness are amongst the nigh common mental health issues for older adults, statistics indicate that misfortunate mental health or illness rates amongst men and women actually decline with age."

People are Happier every bit They Aim Aged

Ever so heard about the stereotype of a "grumpy old" person? Easily that could non be far from the truth, as research suggests hoi polloi actually become happier as they get older.

In a survey of mass of different ages in 149 countries, it was found that elderly adults rated their life satisfaction much higher, with felicity ratings rising gradually and steadily from age 50 through the decade of the 90s.

Other studies have found that older populations lean to be more slaked with their lives, and experience less stress, worry, and anger than center-aged people – primarily because of their life sentence experiences and life-style choices.

"At that place is also evidence that gushing wellbeing improves with age, and that elderly age is related with more pleasant emotional experiences and better emotion regulation," says Irving.

With age comes increased opportunities to prioritize activities that are in person meaning and spend clock time with people we guardianship around and who make us happy.

Ongoing employment, volunteering, physical action, sufficient eternal rest and lifelong learning can all help to support intellectual health and wellbeing as we age.

"Maintaining an optimistic view of senescence, an enduring sense of purpose, personal resilience and knock-down social networks are positive influences happening emotional wellbeing for older people," says Irving.

Mental Health Care for an Ageing Population

As Australia's population ages, there is growing call for for skilled staff who are equipped to deal with mental health issues across the lifespan.

"To effectively endorse positive mental health in afterward life, it is decisive that health and of age care professionals understand and recognise any developing OR ongoing feature health issues in older mass," says Irving.

Flinders University's online Knight bachelor of Healthy Ageing has been designed to enable students to explore and see a range of topics joint with ageing; including mental health and welfare.

As the only grade of its kind in Australia, Irving says it prepares graduates to non only do work with senior people, but to develop the skills and knowledge mandatory to respond to and keep old societies.

Cardinal of the primal topics taught by Washington Irving is Mental Health and Psychological Wellbeing in Later Life; focused specifically on supporting good mental and psychological wellness across the life bridge. Based on an practical approach to teaching and learning, students are taught skills and knowledge they canful in turn off use in various roles and workplace settings.

This flexile online degree is nonesuch for undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing formal qualifications in ageing studies, or professionals WHO may wish to enhance their discernment of the ageing process every bit it relates to their work.

It's an distinguished step to help better devise and educate future students, policy makers, educators, wellness professionals, advocates and other professionals to meet the needs, challenges and opportunities related with an ageing population.

Enrolments are naked fourfold throughout the year, with Democracy gimbaled places available. For more information or to apply, impose Matthew Flinders.edu.au/online/thriving-ageing.

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