Improving Mental Health in Older Adults

There are significant mental health disparities in older people in underserved communities and disadvantaged racial and ethnic groups. Blacks are less inclined to have a mental diagnosis or receive mental health treatments [1]. Older Asian American women have higher rates of suicidal ideations and completions than women from other ethnic and racial groups. Blacks’ and Hispanics’ incidence of the disease is higher (2x and 1.5x respectively), but receiving a diagnosis is much lower [1]. There is a correlation between mental health conditions and cognitive impairment. Contributor factors are stress, disparities that put them at risk for cognitive impairments, ageism increased other forms of discrimination and mental health issues [1].