What Is Stigma in Mental Health and Why It Matters for Seniors
Backed onto beautiful Stuart woodland, Discovery Village Stuart is the perfect piece of paradise in which retirees can find a sense of solace in an otherwise busy world. However, with the CDC reporting that nearly 30% of adults often or always feel lonely, we must all pay attention to senior emotional wellness in our communities. Especially as it is not always easy to provide emotional support for seniors due to the significant stigma they face.
However, if you don't already know, you might be asking, "What is stigma in mental health?"
Below, we delve into mental health awareness concepts and explore why addressing aging and stigma together is crucial. Discover how we support Memory Care and well-being at Discovery Village Stuart, and learn about the measures we take to ensure those in our care have the best possible quality of life.
Why Mental Health Stigma Matters for Seniors
The National Council on Aging has shown that almost 1/5 of adults over the age of 50 have at least one form of mental health issue. In real numbers, this translates to tens of millions, with these individuals requiring genuine support. Unfortunately, societal problems often get in the way, leading people to avoid anything that could improve their situation.
The main sources of this are the four primary forms of stigma:
- Public
- Self
- Structural
- Courtesy
Reducing this stigma can improve the mental health of many of these seniors, helping them by making it easier to discuss their issue, seek out medication, and actively attempt to boost their quality of life.
What Is Stigma in Mental Health?
Stigma is a sense of judgement of people, whether yourself or others, and whether deserved or not. It leads to a form of prejudice that can lead to negative consequences, even if self-imposed.
The problem is widespread, especially among seniors and those with mental illnesses. For example, AARP recently revealed that around two-thirds of people believe society judges those suffering from mental health problems negatively.
The four types of stigma, as mentioned previously, are mostly related to their source and how they then affect the individual. For example:
Public stigma is visible when stereotypes create a common negative image of individuals or groups. "Depression is a weakness" or "Old people are a drain on society" are two such examples, which can lead to people treating those in these groups with disdain.
Self-stigma occurs when individuals internalize these messages. It can lead to significant guilt and self-judgment, which then turns into a loss of hope about one's situation, creating anxiety and depression in sufferers.
Structural stigma can occur when these issues lead to organizational decisions that then impact sufferers. It can cause a lack of resources to help older mental health sufferers, for example, or even laws that force people into involuntary hospitalization due to what could have been treated more easily without the underlying societal stigma.
Finally, courtesy stigma is a form of avoidance. It means to "be polite" and not bring up issues for fear of one's neighbors or peers judging them, in this case, for seeking help.
Each layer of stigma creates further barriers, and we need to be aware of each of them to provide the best quality of help to people that we can.
Why We Need to Pay Attention to Senior Stigma
Large numbers of older generations will have heard for many years that mental health was a character problem, and that those who "made problems" through mental health conditions were inherently less "good" than others. While in some cases this was subtle, in other cases they would have heard phrases such as:
- Old coot
- Senile
- Crazy cat lady
- Mad old codger
The full list is extensive, illustrating how society has developed a range of epithets based on the notion that, as people age, they are more likely to become
unable to participate in society.
These stigma issues then lead to the masking of mental health problems, older generations will not seek out help, and others will not want to help them either.
These individuals withdraw from society, experiencing feelings of shame, loneliness, and heightened stress levels. Due to this, many may develop dementia earlier or have other significant mental health problems.
Fighting Stigma at Discovery Village Stuart
Here in our community, we understand the needs of our residents to find a sense of solace where they will not be judged for the normal process of aging. We ensure that they know they are not a burden on our staff and that they are a welcome part of the community.
Discovery Village Stuart reinforces this with regular talks that encourage personal wellness. We also strive to bring people together in various ways, including through community activities and events that include as many people as possible, even those experiencing mental wellness difficulties. Our dining rooms are even designed to ensure that people enjoy nutritious meals alongside others with whom they can build a rapport, thereby increasing our residents' comfort in interacting with one another.
Doing all of this makes people feel more part of a larger group, helping them avoid the various difficulties of loneliness. Combined with our SHINE Memory Care process, we can ensure that those who are having trouble with dementia and other mental wellness issues are provided as much support as possible to make aging as stress-free as possible.
We can also provide support to families in the form of pamphlets and education to help them engage with their loved ones more easily during complex interactions, allowing both parties to avoid distress.
Aiming for Stigma-Free Senior Living
What is stigma in mental health? It's the negative reaction to those who have issues with mental wellness, and is something we work hard to avoid here at Discovery Village Stuart. From library resources to memory care services and personalized support, we strive to turn simple awareness into action that improves the lives of all those in our care.
So, schedule a tour with us today. Discover how we can help you or a loved one with the challenges of retirement today.