"How Can We Better Support the Mental Health of Our Elderly Population?"

Addressing the Mental Health needs of our elderly population.

Mental health conditions are a great concern in the world, they affect people in different ways, and they can change the aspect of life of individuals. Although it is mostly talked about, many people in communities are unable to identify it and often label it as crazy. The elderly in African communities are often accused of doing witchcraft when they are being affected by mental health conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer's, and schizophrenia. 

These conditions can be caused by social isolation, earlier life experiences, and abuse amongst other reasons and they affect the behaviour and emotions of a person, which results in feeling lonely and not understood.  

Ways to improve the mental health of senior citizens. 

Although some mental health conditions are incurable, they can be treated and improved by doing these things; 

>Taking required medication that is prescribed by health professionals such as psychiatrists. 

> Maintain a good balanced et that is nutritional and fulling. 

> Help them to avoid harmful substances such as tobacco  

> Socialising with friends and family. 

>Help them to engage in activities that are mind stimulating such as playing games. 

Interventions of health and family support are the first step to ease the pressure of the condition. The Department of Health together with the Department of Social Development is trying to improve the lives of elders around the country by working with Non Profit Organisations such as Tender Loving Care old age home to offer holistic care. Over the years there have been improvements in beneficiaries that are staying in the centre, this is because they were offered help psychologically, emotionally, and physically. They have revealed childhood trauma and neglect as one of the major causes of anxiety. 

There is a lot to be done to spread the awareness. Gathering information and engaging with our beloved elders around the community can help to understand more about mental health. 

More information can be found from the link below.

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-of-older-adults#:~:text=Loneliness%20and%20social%20isolation%20are,live%20with%20a%20mental%20disorder.