Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and wish him continued success in his mission to improve mental health services and achieve a reduction of the stigma attached to depression and mental illness.

I will focus on older people and mental health. Depression is the most common mental health disorder in later life, affecting between 10% and 15% of people aged 65 years and over. Older people suffering from depression can be affected by feelings of sadness, loneliness, rejection, failure, hopelessness or a combination of these. Depression, however, is not an inevitable part of growing older. Its prevalence among the old is often linked to the increased likelihood of losing loved ones, retirement, the loss of independence or chronic illness. An increased suicide risk has also been identified, particularly for older males, among whom there is a relatively high rate of completed suicide, often through indirect means, such as starvation, dehydration or failure to take important medical drugs.

Older people are often reluctant and embarrassed to describe psychological or emotional issues. As part of the Government's mental health strategy for the future, we need a targeted health promotion campaign that focuses on mental health issues among older people and that highlights the fact that depression is not a natural part of aging. This should include increasing awareness among older people and their families and friends of the warning signs of depression and other mental health problems.

A key to mental health disorder prevention is preparation for the changes that occur in old age, such as retirement, bereavement and poor health. Programmes designed to develop self esteem and coping skills, and counselling for those undergoing change, are important tools that can be used as part of an overall strategy.

We must also increase older people's access to the treatments that are available. Early detection and treatment can lead to significant improvements in mental health and quality of life. If we fail to deal with the mental health of older people, we will fuel a lack of understanding of depression, leaving many older people affected by the illness, undiagnosed and untreated.