Public Health Issue #5: Clinical Depression
Clinical depression is a serious chronic mental health ailment. Symptoms of depression include loss of appetite, lack of energy, restlessness, and loss of interest in activities. When left untreated, depression can lead to illness, fatigue, and even suicide.
Many seniors are isolated in their homes or living in nursing homes. This can make it difficult to identify serious mental health concerns. Late-life depression impacts some 6 million seniors in the U.S., according to WebMD.
Instances of late-life depression are higher among:
- Women
- Single individuals
- People without a social network
- Individuals who have experienced stressful events
Medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, dementia, chronic pain, and cancer can also increase depression risk.
Public health workers can help educate seniors, nursing home operators, medical professionals, and other community members on the signs of depression in older adults. Public health programs might also conduct mobile screenings at senior centers to identify at-risk individuals.
Public Health Issue #6: Borderline Personality Disorders
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition characterized by difficulty managing emotions and behavior. Individuals with the condition typically have:
- Self-image issues
- Concerns of abandonment
- Impulsive behaviors
- Intense emotional reactions to stress
- Patterns of unstable relationships
In addition to BPD, other types of personality disorders include paranoid personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder. Personality disorders often manifest in adults, and can worsen or improve with age. Personality disorders in seniors might be characterized by irrational thoughts or actions, or abrupt changes in mood.
Making sure that seniors have access to diagnostic and treatment resources is essential to public health programs. Many public health agencies are incorporating mental health goals into their chronic disease prevention efforts. These goals include:
- Conducting research on the prevalence of mental health conditions such as BPD among population groups
- Identifying and eliminating risk factors and disparities
- Raising awareness of mental health issues
- Increasing access to mental health treatment programs