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As the population ages‚ over three million pensioners will experience mental health problems* by 2021 unless action is taken to promote good mental health and well-being for older people‚ a new report reveals today. The figures highlight that if poor mental health rates remain the same in 15 years three million over 65s will experience poor mental health. 

Research released by the first independent UK Inquiry into mental health and older people shows many over 65 year olds are experiencing mental health problems as a result of age discrimination‚ poverty‚ loneliness and poor physical health.

The report‚ Promoting mental health and well-being in later life‚ says that action is needed to remove the barriers that prevent older people from participating in society. It recommends that local authorities take a lead role in partnership with the NHS‚ voluntary organisations‚ business representatives‚ community groups and with individuals to develop programmes that promote positive mental health and well-being in later life. For example‚ local authorities could establish or fund programmes which have been shown to improve older people’s physical health such as Ageing Well which is a peer to peer mentoring scheme that helps older people lead healthier lives. This programme could be expanded to explicitly address mental health and well-being.

The Inquiry also calls on the Government to set a date for ending pensioner poverty. 

Dr June Crown‚ Chairman of the Inquiry said: “The mental health and well-being of older people has been neglected for too long. The report clearly shows what needs to be done. Now is the time for action and everyone – national and local government‚ business‚ communities‚ and individuals – needs to play a part in promoting positive mental health and well-being and valuing the contribution of older people.”

Gordon Lishman‚ Director General‚ Age Concern said: “It is significant that older people themselves highlighted that age discrimination plays a role in poor mental health. For too long age discrimination has been tolerated and this report shows that this is denying older people the chance to enjoy later life. At every level age discrimination needs to be tackled so that older people can enjoy life to the full and society can reap the benefits from all that older people can contribute.”

Andrew McCulloch‚ Chief Executive‚ Mental Health Foundation said: “The mental health of older people has been neglected across the spectrum of promotion‚ prevention and treatment services. Older people simply aren’t receiving the priority they deserve.”

Age Concern and the Mental Health Foundation have joined forces to support the launch of this report from the independent Inquiry‚ which is a three-year major exploration of mental health and well-being in later life.

Ends

End Notes
* Common mental health problems include depression and dementia.

Notes to Editors:

• The Promoting mental health and well-being in later life report is free and available to download from www.mhilli.org
• For further information please contact either Melanie Beardon at Age Concern on 020 8765 7511 / melanie.beardon@ace.org.uk or Fran Gorman at the Mental Health Foundation on 020 7803 1128 / fgorman@mhf.org.uk
• Promoting mental health and well-being in later life is the first report by the independent UK Inquiry into Mental Health and Well-Being in Later Life. The second and final report‚ which will discuss the provision of support and services for older people with mental health problems and carers‚ will be published in 2007.
• Age Concern is the UK’s largest charity working for and with older people to enable them to make more of life. Age Concern is a federation of over 400 independent charities which believe that ageing is a normal part of life‚ and that later life should be fulfilling‚ enjoyable and productive.
• The Mental Health Foundation exists to help people survive‚ recover from and prevent mental health problems. The Foundation does this by learning what makes and keeps people mentally well‚ communicating its findings to a wide range of people and turning research into practical solutions that make a difference to people’s lives‚ now and in the future.
  

Media contacts

Mel Beardon    
Age Concern              
020 8765 7511

Out of Hours:
07071 243 243

Fran Gorman    
Mental Health Foundation          
020 7803 1128