A healthy mind: The importance of mental wellbeing for seniors | Lifestyles

In recent years, a real onus has been put on mental health wellness. We talk about looking after the mental wellbeing of adults and children, but we also need to pay attention to the health and happiness of seniors.

According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, as many as one in three older adults living on their own say they have a need for mental health care, and 12 per cent of those 65 and older have reported feeling socially isolated. While many seniors suffer in silence, others may not know how to seek out help, or be in a position to find support on their own.

“I don’t know if it’s more of a problem than it has been in the past. It’s always been there. The problem is, older adults who do have mental health issues don’t always get the help they need,” said Claire Checkland, executive director of the Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health (CCSMH). “Sometimes they’re reluctant or they don’t recognize there’s a problem. But if we’re feeling down or sad, and these feelings persist, we need to get some medical help.”

Having feelings of anger or loneliness is a normal part of life, experts say, and it’s something that almost all of us go through at some point, but it’s important that we be understanding and patient with ourselves as well. “We would all benefit from knowing that struggles sometimes happen, especially during times of transition, and that’s totally normal,” Checkland explained. “If you’re newly retired or bereaved, or maybe you’ve had to move — we would all be better off by being more kind to ourselves and giving ourselves a bit more space in these circumstances. We should be talking to each other about these things. There’s always people in the world who are receptive to these kinds of conversations.”

If you’re a caregiver or family member and you’ve started noticing things are a little different with a senior you’re close to, ask them about it. “Raise those concerns as you would with other people,” said Checkland. “Older adults have every right to mental wellness, and if there’s something they’re struggling with, they should seek help.”

Seniors can help stave away the blues by adopting certain healthy lifestyle practices. For example, regular exercise is important, as well as socializing. “It’s about trying to stay physically active as much as possible, being social as much as you can, and finding places where you have a sense of purpose or meaning,” Checkland said. “You may not be working anymore, the kids may not be at home anymore, so recognize where your strengths lie and build around those. Set small goals. And if you still find you’re struggling with your mental health, then get help and talk to somebody about it.”