Just over 40% of older adults living with chronic conditions—a population at increased risk of mental health decline—said they would be unlikely to seek mental health help if they needed it, according to a study published in the Australian Journal of Psychology.

“While it’s encouraging that most participants (59%) did say they would seek help if they needed it, a high proportion did not, which is concerning given our aging population,” said lead author Claire Adams, a PhD candidate at Edith Cowan University in Australia.

The study included 108 Australian adults age 65 and older with chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, asthma, and Type 2 diabetes. Participants were questioned on their attitudes and beliefs about seeking assistance for mental health issues, as well as information on their previous use of mental health services, quality of life, and physical and mental health.

According to the study, 41% of older adults said they had no intention of seeking professional mental health support, even if they needed it.

Adjusting Psychopharmacologic Treatment for Geriatric Patients

The study also looked at predictors of whether a participant would access help for mental health. The strongest factor, researchers reported, was whether or not the individual thought mentioning the issue to their physician would be beneficial.

“If people believed that speaking with their doctor would be useful, they were more likely to be willing to seek help,” Adams said, “whereas people who were skeptical about the benefits were less likely to seek help.”

Peer influence and physical abilities also played a role. Older adults who thought friends and family would not support them were less likely to seek help, as were older adults who thought they were physically incapable of accessing mental health services.

“We know that older people with chronic disease are at risk of mental health decline, so it’s important that they engage with support services early to reduce severe mental health problems and improve their quality of life,” said Adams. “This study demonstrates that attitudinal change is required to increase help-seeking in older people with chronic disease.”

References

Adams C, Gringart E, Strobel N, Masterman P. Help-seeking for mental health problems among older adults with chronic disease: an application of the theory of planned behaviour. Aust J Psychol. Published online July 19, 2021. doi: 10.1080/00049530.2021.1952850

Older people reluctant to seek help for mental health concerns. News release. Edith Cowan University. August 4, 2021. Accessed August 9, 2021.