Think You Are Too Old for Mental Health Therapy?

Why therapy is in short supply

Currently there is a limited supply of therapists (psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and care givers) with the interest, training and experience to work with older adults who are in need of assistance. The supply of mental health professionals trained in geriatrics is short supply that the National Academy of Medicine predicts that we’ll never catch up.

The need for such services is in high demand. One study found that as many as 1 in 10 people that are 60+ may suffer a bout of major depression and as well as 90 percent do not get the proper treatment they need. Those who receive any treatment at all are usually prescribed antidepressant medication by their primary care provider, not by a psychiatrist. Talk therapy is rarely in the conversation.

There are a number of reasons why we’re in this position — all one form or another of ageism — but an insidious factor is a long-standing, misguided belief that people become too old to change. (Even Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, believed that people stop developing after age 50.)

If health care professionals don’t think therapy will help, then it’s no surprise that much of the general population holds the same prejudice. One study of people ages 60 to 79 found that the greatest barrier to seeking help was the belief that a decline in mental health was a normal part of aging. (It’s not.)

If you or your loved one is in need or help. Do not hesitate to contact us at UHIS: (800) 983-8011

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References:

Plotkin, Daniel AARP 2020, Updated 24 March 2021, < https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2021/mental-health-therapy.html >