336025
Barriers and facilitators to mental health help-seeking among older adults in The Villages, Florida: A Qualitative Study
Monday, November 2, 2015
: 9:10 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Susan Tyler, BA,
Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Jaime Corvin, PhD, MSPH,
Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Carla L. VandeWeerd, PhD,
Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Background: Depression and mental health issues are common among older adults. This population also shows more severe outcomes, and lower utilization rates of health services compared to younger populations, attributable in part, to a lack of help-seeking behaviors. This study seeks to qualitatively explore barriers and facilitators to help-seeking behaviors among older adults in The Villages, a large planned community of older adults in Central Florida
Methods: Analysis focused on Phase 3 of a larger mixed-methods health assessment conducted by the University of South Florida (USF) Health. Thematic analysis of 29 focus groups (n=144) was undertaken to assess themes related to mental health. Broader themes relating to perceptions of depression, accessing mental health care services, and barriers to seeking treatment for depression were identified.
Results: Although residents were asked about mental health services in general, residents almost universally focused the discussion on depression. Participants identified the following barriers to seeking help: perception of depression as a normative part of aging; generalized stigma regarding mental health; an uncertainty of when and where to seek help; and lack of insurance coverage. Facilitators include: recognizing the importance of mental health; a desire to refer friends, family and neighbors to services; informal support groups as a first step to seeking care; and the physicians role in treating depression
Discussion: Planned retirement communities are unique opportunities to explore perceptions of mental health help-seeking among older adults. Future public health efforts must focus on making mental health treatment more known, accessible, and acceptable among older adults.
Learning Areas:
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Analyze the barriers and facilitators to mental health help-seeking among older adults living in a planned retirement community
Describe the experience of older adults in relation to mental health
Keyword(s): Mental Health, Aging
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have two graduate degrees (public health and medical anthropology). I have been involved in aging research for four years, and have presented at numerous professional conferences.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
