Up to 1 in 5 older adults lives with a mental health condition like depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder. And yet—most go undiagnosed and untreated. Why? Because too often we only focus on the body and neglect the mind and soul.

The truth is: mental health concerns are just as treatable in later life as at any other age. What’s stopping older adults from getting the care they need isn’t biology—it’s barriers. But here’s the good news: every one of these barriers can be broken.

 

 

Whether you’re a healthcare provider, therapist, care manager, or advocate, here are 10 powerful ways you can help older adults get the mental health care they deserve.

1. Challenge the Myth That Mental Illness Is “Normal” in Aging

Too many people—including professionals—mistake depression or anxiety as a “normal” part of getting older. This myth silences older adults who are struggling, leading them to believe that suffering is something they just have to live with.

What to do: Mental health screenings should be a routine part of medical and wellness checkups. Normalize emotional check-ins during therapy or intake sessions. Educate families that mood changes in later life are not just part of the territory—they are signals for support.

2. Show That Growth and Healing Are Possible at Any Age

There’s a stereotype that older adults are “set in their ways” and not open to therapy or change. In truth, older adults often bring profound insight, resilience, and readiness for personal growth. Many have navigated loss, illness, or trauma, and they are often deeply motivated to find peace, connection, and purpose.

What to do: Share examples of older adults thriving through therapy. Promote narratives that celebrate personal growth in later life. Use interventions grounded in meaning, legacy, and spirituality—which older adults often respond to deeply.

3. Train the Workforce in Mental Health and Aging

Despite the aging population, fewer than 5% of mental health professionals receive training in mental health and aging. This means many clinicians miss signs of mental distress or cognitive impairment in their older clients, simply because they were never trained to look for them.

What to do: Advocate for the inclusion of mental health and aging in clinical training programs. Provide or attend continuing education courses focused on aging. Normalize the need for specialized training—because mental health at every age deserves expertise.

4. Recognize That Mental Health Often Shows Up as Physical Symptoms

Older adults may not say “I’m anxious” or “I’m depressed.” Instead, they might describe fatigue, headaches, stomach issues, or poor sleep. These physical symptoms can mask emotional distress and delay proper treatment.

What to do: In addition to assessing for physical health concerns, we should ask deeper questions when older adults report physical complaints. Integrate mind-body assessments into wellness visits. Use tools that explore emotional well-being even when someone doesn’t name it outright.

5. Break the Stigma Around Mental Health in Older Generations

Many older adults grew up during a time when mental illness was seen as weakness. They were taught to “tough it out” and avoid talking about feelings. This stigma still keeps many from asking for help.

What to do: Foster conversations that validate emotional challenges as part of the human experience. Encourage peer-led support groups where older adults can speak openly. Frame therapy as a resource for strength and resilience—not weakness.

6. Integrate Mental Health Into Primary Care

Most older adults are more likely to see their primary care doctor than a mental health specialist. But these visits often focus solely on physical health, missing the emotional and cognitive dimensions of care.

What to do: Advocate for integrated care models that bring mental health professionals into primary care settings. Support collaborative documentation and team huddles between physicians and therapists. When care is seamless, outcomes improve.

7. Provide Culturally Affirming and Inclusive Mental Health Services

As the population ages, it becomes more diverse. But mental health services often fail to meet the cultural, racial, sexual orientation, and disability-related needs of older adults. This leads to mistrust and underutilization of care.

What to do: Invest in cultural humility training. Hire staff who reflect the communities being served. Translate materials into multiple languages and respect cultural preferences around healing, spirituality, and care.

8. Catch It Early: Screen for Cognitive and Emotional Concerns

Mental health conditions can increase the risk for dementia. At the same time, early symptoms of dementia are often mistaken for normal aging. Without timely recognition, we miss the opportunity to intervene early.

What to do: Use evidence-based screening tools to assess both cognitive function and mood in older adults. Create partnerships between mental health and neurology providers. Early intervention isn’t just helpful—it’s critical.

9. Confront Ageism in Ourselves and Our Systems

Ageism—the systemic undervaluing of older people—is one of the biggest barriers to care. When we assume older adults can’t change, grow, or benefit from therapy, we perpetuate harm.

What to do: Reflect on implicit biases. Audit your language, policies, and spaces for signs of ageism (and all ‘isms). Invite older adults to the table as experts in their own experiences. Respect and inclusion should be the norm—not the exception.

10. Take Suicide Risk in Older Adults Seriously

Suicide among older adults, especially men over 75, is a silent epidemic. Depression in later life often looks different—more irritability, withdrawal, or somatic complaints. If we don’t ask, we may never know someone is suffering.

What to do: Make suicide screening a routine part of care for older adults. Ask direct questions about loneliness, purpose, and safety. Create systems for follow-up and support.

Join the Movement to Improve Mental Health Care for Older Adults

Every one of these steps is a way to shift our culture and our care systems toward dignity, access, and healing. But we can’t do it alone.

Want to become part of the solution? Download the free Clinician’s Guide to Mental Health & Aging

 

Whether you’re a therapist, healthcare professional, or advocate, your actions matter. Your compassion matters. Your presence matters.

Together, we can build a world where older adults don’t just live longer—they live well.

Because there’s no expiration date on healing, transformation, and love.

 

Share this blog with a friend, colleague, or loved one who would benefit. Together, we can foster belonging and connection in every season of life. Because…

 

There’s no expiration date on healing, transformation, and love.