Addressing Mental Health Stigma in Independent Senior Living

If you've ever tried talking about mental health problems with an older loved one here in Tulsa, OK, you've probably experienced the effects of mental health stigma for yourself.

Whenever you bring up topics like mental health education or mental wellness in aging, you probably notice awkwardness, evasion, or sometimes outright hostility. This puzzling behavior is because of a different generational attitude to mental health.

According to Dr Jo Anne Sirey, when people expect a negative reaction or judgment, they keep their mental health struggles secret. Not only is this harmful for self-esteem, but it also results in worse health care outcomes.

Read on to learn more about what we can do to reduce mental health stigma in older adults.

The Types of Mental Health Stigma

Mental Health stigma and older adults is a broad concept, and fighting it is a crucial part of effective emotional support for seniors. It's important to understand the different types of mental stigma and how to recognize them.

Societal Stigma

The first type of mental health stigma is known as societal stigma, and this is the attitude that people in the community at large have towards mental health. It represents the typical reaction you can expect when they raise these issues either in public or with their friends and families.

But it's about more than just what people might think of you at the grocery store; it's also a term for ideas spread through media like movies, books, or newspapers.

These stereotypical attitudes are harmful because when somebody thinks of mental health, those are the kind of images that will come to mind.

Organizational Mental Health Stigma

The second form of mental health stigma is organizational stigma. This is quite similar to societal stigma; however, it refers to a small group, organization, or institution within society.

If you went to the doctors for a depression diagnosis only to be easily dismissed because of your age, that would be an example of organizational stigma against mental health.

Internalized Stigma

The final type is internalized stigma. This is the most harmful form of stigma because it is when an individual suffering from a stigmatized mental health condition ends up accepting these harmful and hurtful views as valid.

So, for example, if somebody suffering from depression was characterized as being lazy, they might start to accept that label, which then in turn might result in them taking an active role in choosing the lazy path in life because they think that's a core part of who they are.

Beating Stigma Through Mental Health Education

Mental health stigma perpetuates itself through secrecy. The harmful stereotypes enforced by mental health stigma are not true to life, but as long as people think that emotional suffering is something shameful that should be hidden from view, mental health stigma will remain problematic.

If you want to address this problem, it's crucial to have an accurate understanding of why seniors hesitate to discuss these topics. Sadly, many older people think that talking about anxiety or depression indicates personal failing or weakness.

The older generation grew up during harder times when mental health struggles were not as well understood as they are today. They were taught to endure the hardships of life with stoicism and without complaint.

According to a study by Stephanie Knaak, we now know better and recognize that remaining stoic in the face of mental illness like depression and anxiety can make symptoms worse.

The tendency to avoid the topic is driven by a fear of judgment and a desire to stay independent. It makes sense to offer guidance and reassurance and assist with optimizing their living environment.

Support With Medical Visits

According to another Stephanie Knaak paper, Seniors can also benefit from support during medical visits. For example, when they go to the doctors, the physicians there may sometimes reinforce stigma, particularly if there is a culture of organizational stigma against mental health in their medical practice.

When an older patient talks about feeling down or anxious, the doctor might dismiss it as a normal part of getting old instead of recognizing it as the treatable condition that it is.

In some cases, this is down to unconscious bias caused by outdated training or learning about these topics. These older colleagues might not be up to date on the latest mental health research.

By assisting with medical appointments and understanding how even good doctors can inadvertently treat seniors with bias, it makes sense to go along to the meetings to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Direct Action

Finally, the best way to deal with mental health stigma is by taking direct action. Offering straightforward reassurance is a good start, but you can also check out local workshops where seniors can learn about concepts like emotional intelligence.

These kinds of workshops are often led by older people who have experienced these struggles for themselves. When seniors see clear evidence that seeking help and recognizing mental health struggles can have positive consequences, they'll have a much easier time dealing with their situation.

Evidence-Based Strategies to Reduce Stigma

The stigma around mental health isn't something we can easily fix, but there are some things that have been shown to help older people feel seen, heard, and supported.

• Emotional health workshops: provide seniors with safe spaces to talk about their feelings and normalize emotional wellness.
• Learning from peers: Providing authentic voices and real recovery stories aids in lowering anxiety
• Training for care providers: Effective training ensures emotional care is appropriate

Together, these strategies chip away at stigma while building more connected, caring communities.

Beating Mental Health Stigma Through Community

Mental health stigma in the older Generation isn't a problem that's going to vanish overnight. However, with honest conversation and by taking direct action, we can make incremental progress and create a better future for the seniors of the future.

Senior living and mental health improvements often go hand in hand. With a vibrant community, ample opportunity for empathetic interaction, and specialized support, local seniors can address mental health stigma and live a rich, fulfilling life.

Are you interested in discovering our independent living program, with extra supportive services available? Country Club at Woodland Hills could be the senior living community you're looking for. Contact us today to set up a tour.