Campaigns & issues

Depression is the most common mental health problem in later life.

Of the third of older people with depression who discuss it with their GP‚ only half are diagnosed and receive treatment.

This means that only about 15 per cent of all older people with clinical depression receive treatment.

850‚000 out of 1 million people don’t.

Depression is an illness that blights the lives of many older people. It is not “one of those things”. It is not “what you can expect at your age”. It is not an inevitable part of ageing.

It is an illness that can be treated: if older people seek help‚ are diagnosed‚ and receive appropriate treatment.

The scandal is that for many older people this doesn’t happen. Many do not seek help. For those who do‚ ageist attitudes among health professionals can prevent diagnosis. And for the lucky ones who are diagnosed‚ access to the full range of treatments may be denied because of their age.

Older people with depression deserve better.

Ignoring the problem is not an option: if not identified and treated‚ depression ruins people’s quality of life‚ increases the risk of other illnesses‚ and can even lead to suicide.