Population ageing will see an increase in depression, anxiety, elder abuse and other mental illnesses in older adults.
We recommend:
- Investment in mental health that reflects the disease burden for older people, and their carers, and is at least commensurate with the current investment in physical health.
- Reform in mental health services to provide culturally appropriate, holistic, integrated, age friendly and accessible services.
- Providing nursing home residents with access to psychological services.
- The involvement for older people, and their carers in the design and delivery of services for older people.
- More public awareness campaigns to increase understanding of and reduce stigma surrounding mental health in older people: poor mental health is not a normal part of ageing; it is a prevailing attitude of ageism.
- Measures in mental health policy to strengthen carers’ wellbeing and to provide them with satisfactory emotional, financial and instrumental support.
Response to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System
