Why Is There a Stigma Around Mental Health in Older Adults?

Ever wondered why your elderly family members get evasive or dismissive when you try to talk about mental health? A big reason for that is a different generational attitude. Senior mental health awareness efforts have to overcome some serious challenges to overcome seniors' views.

So, why is there a stigma around mental health, and what can loved ones and senior care communities do to improve emotional wellness for seniors here in Flower Mound, TX?

Read on to learn more about reducing stigma in aging and how it impacts local mental health support in Flower Mound

Why is There a Stigma Around Mental Health?

The roots of mental health stigma in seniors come from the era in which they grew up. Today's seniors grew up in an era where people didn't discuss mental health much. Those struggling with conditions like depression and anxiety would do their best to mask their symptoms.

Those who couldn't hide their internal struggles were often disregarded or disrespected. Thankfully, decades of research into abnormal psychology have given us a much better understanding of how mental illness and mental disorders work. Nowadays, people are less likely to see mental illness as a weakness or something to be ashamed of.

Sadly, there's still a lot of work to be done. According to figures from Psychiatry.org, over half of all people living with mental illness feel reluctant to seek help because they're afraid of the mental health stigma.

The Types of Mental Health Stigma

Mental health stigma is a broad concept, and there are three main subcategories. Understanding them is a crucial part of improving mental health outcomes for seniors.

Societal Stigma

Societal stigma is when people spread negative or harmful attitudes about mental health. Societal stigma can spread through:

• Negative Comments: Mental health stigma can easily spread through small talk and comments.
• Stereotyped Media Depictions: When movies and TV shows have mentally ill characters, they're often unstable or dangerous.
• Dismissing Concerns: People might dismiss clear indicators of mental illness as nothing to be concerned about.
• Staying Silent: When mental health is a taboo subject that simply isn't discussed, it makes it harder to speak up about your own struggles.

Societal change always takes time, and thankfully, more people are starting to ask, "why is there a stigma around mental health?" By understanding mental health stigma, you can be part of this positive change.

Internalized Stigma

After experiencing societal stigmatization and harmful stereotypes, you might start to internalize them. This means you accept these negative depictions as true and accurate. According to the Mayo Clinic, Feelings of shame and self-doubt usually accompany internal stigma, making it much harder for those affected to seek treatment.

The negative self-image created by internal stigma is difficult to overcome. It's important that we reduce societal stigma and protect people's self-esteem.

Organizational Stigma

Finally, there's organizational stigma. This is one of the most difficult forms to deal with because it involves formal organizations like schools and hospitals believing in harmful stereotypes.

For example, imagine a senior going to their family doctor and describing clear symptoms of depression. If the GP simply discounted those symptoms as "part of normal aging," that would be an example of organizational stigma.

Thankfully, in situations like this, seniors have the right to ask for a second opinion. The best way to protect seniors from organizational stigma is to support them as they deal with medical institutions or government agencies.

The Crucial Role of Families

According to the American Psychological Association, having good family support is strongly associated with improved mental health outcomes. When seniors feel comfortable talking about their emotional struggles with their loved ones, they'll feel less stressed and are more likely to seek medical treatment.

But, families themselves aren't immune to mental health stigma. Sure, older family members are more susceptible, but these attitudes are passed down through the generations. If you're supporting an older family member, it makes sense to think about mental health in the context of your own struggles and attitudes.

The problem with stigma is that it's so pervasive, you can feed into it without even realizing it. For example, people describing their mental health struggles to loved ones often experience emotional invalidation. This is when you minimize someone's emotional experience by saying something like "You're overreacting; it's not that bad".

Usually, loved ones say this in an attempt to be supportive, but this kind of attitude can make seniors feel unseen and unheard.

By understanding how you could unconsciously contribute to mental health stigmatization, and by actively taking steps to address it, you can provide reliable and effective emotional support.

Tips for Caregivers and Families

According to the CDC, effective mental health support for seniors starts with empathy and patience. Use these tips to guide thoughtful conversations:

• Start Small: Ask open, non-intrusive questions like "How have you been feeling?" to open the door to a conversation.
• Respect Autonomy: Let them choose the pace and don't push them to talk if they don't want to.
• Be Gentle: Avoid using formal medical language, keep it calm and casual.
• Share Stories: Inspire change by talking about others who've overcome similar struggles.
• Stay Present: Make it clear you're there to provide ongoing support.
• Normalize It: Frame mental health as something they should treat like physical health.
• Listen Closely: Let them talk, don't interrupt or be dismissive.

Senior Wellness Through Real Conversations

By asking "why is there a stigma around mental health," people can prepare themselves to have real (and sometimes slightly uncomfortable) conversations with seniors. People in the family who listen carefully, respond with compassion, and validate emotional experiences help in the fight against mental health stigma. We get one step closer to lasting emotional wellness with each compassionate discussion.

Are you looking for a caring, supportive community that takes these mental health struggles seriously? In that case, you should schedule a tour at Pinewood Hills Senior Living today and experience firsthand how our independent living residents thrive through community connections, personalized support, and extensive Pinewood Hills resources.