Section General Health Care (SGHC) that falls under Collective Prevention Services (CPS) from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, says that Thursday, 10 October, will be observed around the world as World Mental Health Day (WMHD)
The objective of the day is to raise awareness on mental health issues.
The theme for WMHD in 2013 is “Mental health and older adults.”
Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever is calling on the nation to look out for the elderly and to pay more attention to them. As part of the Minister’s ‘Get Checked,’ campaign, De Weever is calling on civil society to pay more attention to the senior population and to assist them wherever possible.
In addition, Minister De Weever says he strongly believes that all institutions must work together in the interest of the patient at all times.
Older adults, those aged 60 or above, have made and continue to make important contributions to society as family members, volunteers and as active participants in the workforce.
Mental health and emotional well-being are as important in older age as at any other time in life.
While most have good mental health, many older adults are at risk of developing mental disorders, neurological disorders or substances use problems as well as physical illness or disability.
The world’s population is ageing rapidly. Between 2000 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s older adults is estimated to double from about 11 per cent to 22 per cent. In absolute terms, this is an expected increase from 605 million to two billion people over the age of 60.
Older people face special physical and mental health challenges which need to be recognized.
Over 20 per cent of adults aged 60 and over suffer from a mental or neurological disorder (excluding headache disorders) and 6.6 per cent of all disability (disability adjusted life years-DALYs) among over 60s is attributed to neurological and mental disorders.
The most common neuropsychiatric disorders in this age group are dementia and depression. Anxiety disorders affect 3.8 per cent of the elderly population, substance use problems affect almost 1 per cent and around a quarter of deaths from self-harm are among those aged 60 or above.
Substance abuse problems among the elderly are often overlooked or misdiagnosed.
PHOTO CUTLINE: Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius de Weever