Have you ever noticed that when the topic of mental health comes up here in Melbourne, Florida, you often hear quite negative and stereotypical outlooks? Sadly, the area seniors are among those most likely to have poor mental health awareness.
The reasons for mental health stigma are multifaceted. There's the public attitude in wider society, the structural stigma of organizational policy, and then the harmful internalized stigma that makes people feel shame or self-blame.
These harmful stereotypes are held up using language, media, and because of societal silence.
In short, stigma is about more than just people's feelings getting hurt, and for local seniors, it's a key part of senior emotional wellness. So, why is there a stigma around mental health? If you're interested in learning more about why there is a stigma around mental health and what you can do about it, read on to learn more about aging and stigma.
So, to understand how mental health stigma affects local seniors, first let's look at the major categories of mental health stigma. The first is the public attitude, in other words, the prevailing impression that the average person has about mental health disorders and those who suffer from them.
Think about the kind of comments people would make if mental health comes up in a public space, like a grocery store or a doctor's waiting room. If the comments are likely to be hurtful or biased against people with mental health problems, it means there are high levels of mental health stigmatization in society.
The structural stigma is a smaller form of public stigma, in which an organization, such as a school or a hospital, has policies, practices, or standards of behavior that create unequal access to treatment or that make people suffering from mental illness feel discriminated against.
And then finally, there is self-stigma. This is when people start to internalize these stereotypes and regard them to be true, and according to Science Direct, this will often leave people with a sense of shame or self-blame.
By knowing the different types of mental health stigma, you're better situated to recognize it when you encounter it.
So, why is there a stigma around mental health, and how does it spread? Let's explore it further.
Of course, language is a key aspect; for example, using disparaging language like calling someone crazy or using someone's diagnosis as an insult.
Structural stigma can cause all kinds of discriminatory barriers, such as cutting people off from healthcare, housing, or insurance. Finally, mental health stigma is only able to proliferate when people stay silent and don't speak up when they encounter these harmful perspectives in public spaces.
But why are older people more at risk than others? One of the main reasons is a difference in generational culture. When seniors were growing up, they were taught to stay stoic and not discuss their mental struggles. Sadly, mental health conditions were viewed as shameful or immoral.
There was also a greater sense of keeping such matters private and not letting them leave the family. Additionally, there was simply a lack of knowledge and fewer ways for conversations with peers who have successfully handled mental health struggles.
Older people also stand a much greater chance of having their symptoms dismissed, often when physicians have taken on a structurally stigmatizing perspective and think these symptoms are just a normal part of getting old. According to Harvard Health, conditions like depression and anxiety can also be mistakenly attributed to memory-related conditions like dementia. Sadly, many physicians don't account for the fact that dementia can occur with such disorders.
So, what can caregivers, family members, and senior living communities do to help seniors have a more positive mental attitude? First, according to alzheimers.gov, it helps to communicate using clear, respectful language that doesn't make them feel attacked or belittled. You can also try to introduce them to more modern outlooks on depression.
Perhaps you can highlight how having good mental health can also help them improve other areas of their life, such as getting enough sleep, improving mobility, or having a more active social life.
Caregivers are often afraid that treatment will be invasive or excessive, so they can benefit from understanding how modern psychology is all about respecting individual autonomy and ensuring people are comfortable.
Skepticism is likely, so you can help normalize mental health treatment by sharing real recovery stories from peers or trusted messengers, such as members of religious organizations and other community leaders.
Senior living communities themselves can also do a lot to facilitate positive conversations and fight back against the wall of silence. These communities help improve mental health in general by giving seniors access to a rich peer support network and highly trained support staff who can answer questions about mental health struggles and lend an empathetic ear.
In a perfect world, seniors would be able to talk candidly about mental health issues without fear or shame. Family members and caregivers should be able to discuss mental health issues openly, just like they would with any other health problem.
One day, mental health checkups may become as common as blood pressure checks. Truthful talk is the only way for that to happen.
Why is there a stigma around mental health? Now you know. By thinking about how mental health stigma affects older individuals, people can prepare themselves to have important conversations with seniors about aging and stigma
Family members who listen attentively, respond with empathy, and validate emotional experiences contribute to the prevention of mental health issues.
Are you seeking a community that is compassionate, encouraging, and takes these senior emotional wellness issues seriously? Take a tour of Discovery Village Melbourne today to see for yourself how our residents who live alone thrive with the help of our supervised independent living program and all the other resources available at Discovery Village Melbourne.
Contact us today to learn more about our independent living, assisted living, and memory care support options.