Mental Health Matters: Depression and Anxiety in Older Adults

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7 жыл бұрын

On June 8, 2016 the Forum hosted a public talk at McMaster Innovation Park featuring Michael Landsberg, host of TSN’s Off The Record and well-known mental health advocate. Both he and Dr. Doug Oliver, a family physician with a passion for supporting the physical and mental health of older adults, engaged in an open discussion on depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges facing older adults.
The above video presents highlights from the event.
Mental health issues impose an enormous disease burden on societies across the world with depression alone affecting 350 million people globally. It is estimated that one in ten Canadian adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives. For older adults living in institutions, the rate of anxiety and depression increases significantly. The social stigma around mental illnesses presents a serious barrier, not only to diagnosis and treatment but also to acceptance in the community.
This public talk was organized by the McMaster Health Forum and was supported by McMaster University’s Labarge Optimal Aging Initiative.

Пікірлер: 29

@danielpercival 3 ай бұрын

Like Michael’s talk. Can so identify with it. At present 30 years depression. Started with migraines at mid age, now 70 years. Antidepressants work slightly. I was vocal about my struggle to friends, some leave, most hear you then try to change the subject or just forget what you’ve said immediately but a few do express care and concern. Mind you nobody I think knows of any magic cure but that’s ok. Just listening and trying to understand is enough. Depression makes you a totally different person and you and your friends who care will just have to understand that. To me, there is no going back, accept who you’ve become and go on as best as you can. So thanks Michael for that really open talk.

@annejohnston8696 4 жыл бұрын

The way in which Dr Doug Oliver talks about aging is beautiful, eloquent and profound. It's much much needed. ..I am reminded of John Prine's classic "Hello in There." We are just six days into 2020. I am only 57 . I believe that I have had depression, and now constant anxiety since a teenager. It is in a different form now, difficult to explain. With me the form seems to stem from regret. The thought that if I had only written or sang or played that piano when they were screaming at me to do so, that now I wouldn't feel so deeply this fear and all it brings..and now the need to be active in a different way, eg cleaning, in an attempt to disapate those unwanted feelings only for them to spring up even bigger each time. We become cowards in our need just to feel normal, like we're "behaving", keeping above the water by keeping busy instead of just stopping. Just stopping to Feel. Maybe it's just because it's the beginning of a new year or because, politically I am more aware than ever of what is going in my own country , Scotland, and Abroad, the terrorism imposed by America for the world.. It's bound to make some impact in our minds. I have 2 young grandchildren. Depression is a reaction to our environment, what we observe, what we come to know. It's so subtle and assuming silence, it hides away We feel the need to "keep up" with life, harsh routines are imposed on us daily. It's fast, it's unnatural. We can lose the ability to feel . But we will be made to stop and made to listen to our worn out minds and bodies eventually... We have to protect our children. Show them joy and laughter. Pull through the shit. We laugh , we cry. Joy in your heart is different, And much much needed.

@small_fries7573 Жыл бұрын

@MentalHealthandWellness-dr6by 5 ай бұрын

So many older adults suffer in silence and may not even know they are experiencing mental health symptoms. There is no shame in reaching out for help no matter how old you are.

@AngelaGGentile 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing your experience, Michael. I am sure you are helping many, many people with your openness. Thank you Dr. Oliver for your wise words on how professionals can help those who are struggling with mental illness (brain disease). Ending stigmatization of mental health issues includes focusing on education, support and treatment while instilling hope in those affected.

@Bob.Stoddard 5 жыл бұрын

i want to just let it out and cry,, but i can't

@coomzee1 7 жыл бұрын

A brave man to admit where he's been and is.I really appreciated his ability to describe his experience and I can relate to much of what he says and simple direct way he can articulate his journey. Thankyou for giving this illness a voice.

@small_fries7573 Жыл бұрын

Here's some motivation. U still have some time. U r not 60. My neighbor got fired when he was 50 around christmas 🎄 and his bday! How cursed is that? I hope u get motivated after reading 📚 this! Hope this cheers u up n give u hope! Enjoy! Take guts to admit u got issues. All humans do. U r not like my neighbor Cuong. He was arrested 2x for his rage against his supervisors! Then he got fired around christmas 2012! Sought revenge and retribution, lost 2 court cases to his employers, & lost thousands of dollars to attorney fees! The misery doesnt stop here. He doesn't go out unless necessary. No job. No vacations. No eating out. Doesn't celebrate any kind of holiday as he lost interest in anything socially-related. Almost no social interactions outside his family. Wife works and cooks for him daily. He has 2 junk cars sitting in his backyard and other clutters. He also collects cans and bottles to get paid for recycling ♻️. I mean Cuong is a miserable guy who has no real, honest hope in his life anymore! That's 10 years of misery n denial of his mental illness conditions. He likes to brag in front of others, but his pain and agony overpowers him inside. His false pride 😤 is what leads him to self destruction! What a shame. People on this site have more courage than 🐔 Cuong! A failure covers n lies about his issues. That's Cuong.I know a sheltered old man name Robert A. Please if you're retired don't be like him. 1. Super frugile 2. Broken, worn out driveway. Has $ to get it fixed but too cheap. 3. Sheltered, no friends no social life! 4. Wife goes out while he stays home 5. Smoke 🚬 🚭 6. Drinks too much Coke 7. Don't turn on da air con even when the weather is over 90°...he has money and a retirement plan 8. Worships demonic idols/demons posted outside his house 9. Superstitious. Never exits nor enter the front door of his house. 10. Wasting precious water on grasses n plants 🪴. Illegal watering. 3-4 times a week! Only limit to 2x per week 11. No vacations, no stay-cation. 12. Doesn't know how 2 cook at all. His wife have been shopping 🛍 & cooking for him daily. Don't dine out. 13. Rarely exercises if u don't count watering plants

@mossie1954 3 жыл бұрын

My depression came in short spouts...One day I was woken the other side of the planet at the time 911 was taking place. I had a most terrible 'dread' inside of me. I was 47yrs old....yet something stopped me from turning on the t.v., I went back to bed. To wake and see at 8am the news. I think it triggered 'how' of all countries it happened too? It just seemed impossible to me. Since then I just try hard to do one day at a time....praise God. Some are real hard, some better.

@cjasz622 4 жыл бұрын

if you are poor and can not find a life partner - you can be depressed

@small_fries7573 Жыл бұрын

Hi there! 👋 I hope this msg will motivate you. I know this guy name Mike. He's from San Antonio, TX. He's probably in his late 50s or early 60s by now. After u read this, I hope u get motivated to turn ur life around. Keep grinding 💪 my friends. 1. Divorced 2. Got evicted from his previous apartment; refused to leave letting cops to confront da situations 3. Has a grown son 28-30 yrs old 4. Loudmouth, cusses often, mocks all kinds of people 5. Heard him say racist comments to a group of four Hispanic men. Probably many more raging racist episodes out in public 6. People dislike him cuz of his mouth. Peeps r also intimidated by it. 7. Had cancer 2k13; God's wrath! 8. Big, chubby 230-245 with no cardio at all. Just only care about lifting weights 9. 711 diet. Dude likes to eat their hotdogs 🌭 and pizza. Drink lotsa slurpy! 10. His idol, Donald Trump, lost da election in 2020. Mike still pissed 😤 af! Everything's rigged to him according to his own beliefs. 11. Horrible wardrobe style. Brags abt how he can make a nice, walk-in closet but dress like 💩 💩 💩 12. No vacations/no go out to eat for dinner; stays home while his gf and her companions go out 13. Eats 2 much meat 🍖 and believes in "all-about-da-meat diet!" Has no liking 4 fruits n veggies. To him, these food r for pansies... He's a miserable guy. Hope this inspires you to see that there r miserable people out there who still refuses to point out their personal, mental, psychological, and spiritual problems! At least if u admit ur depressed or something, u have already made ur 1st step to improvement/growth!

@TonyBurke100 9 ай бұрын

When someone speaks down to me because I'm old I laugh at their stupidity. I'm seventy so I've been around a lot more than they've been so I've seen more, learned more done more than they so how does that make me less than they?.

@goodtalker 2 жыл бұрын

I worked in adult education in the California penal system for 25 years. From that experience, I learned that men, in general, are incredibly more fragile, and incredibly more damaged, than probably women. They just hide it better. In fact, when their behavior devolves into addiction, the jig is up. They can no longer hide it, and the road to recovery, can at that point, begin.

@small_fries7573 Жыл бұрын

Amen. I know a sheltered old man name Robert A. Please if you're retired don't be like him. 1. Super frugile 2. Broken, worn out driveway. Has $ to get it fixed but too cheap. 3. Sheltered, no friends no social life! 4. Wife goes out while he stays home 5. Smoke 🚬 🚭 6. Drinks too much Coke 7. Don't turn on da air con even when the weather is over 90°...he has money and a retirement plan 8. Worships demonic idols/demons posted outside his house 9. Superstitious. Never exits nor enter the front door of his house. 10. Wasting precious water on grasses n plants 🪴. Illegal watering. 3-4 times a week! Only limit to 2x per week 11. No vacations, no stay-cation. 12. Doesn't know how 2 cook at all. His wife have been shopping 🛍 & cooking for him daily. Don't dine out. 13. Rarely exercises if u don't count watering plants

@lukehankinson3668 10 ай бұрын

I love the topic and his ideas but I have had a different experience with depression and mental health. He describes a constant tap on the shoulder as magnifying the experience. For me the constant tap on the shoulder becomes normal, I get acclimatised to it it. After a while I realise I'm back in the hole and I don't know how I got there. For some, it's about learning you own body and noticing the signs to mitigate and prevent oncoming episodes. I am not critisicing this approach. I just want to make people aware that depression can be mitigated in various ways.

@eliaschelios7724 4 жыл бұрын

Breaking the law without knowing can lead to fear and depression...

@small_fries7573 Жыл бұрын

I know a sheltered old man name Robert A. Please if you're retired don't be like him. 1. Super frugile 2. Broken, worn out driveway. Has $ to get it fixed but too cheap. 3. Sheltered, no friends no social life! 4. Wife goes out while he stays home 5. Smoke 🚬 🚭 6. Drinks too much Coke 7. Don't turn on da air con even when the weather is over 90°...he has money and a retirement plan 8. Worships demonic idols/demons posted outside his house 9. Superstitious. Never exits nor enter the front door of his house. 10. Wasting precious water on grasses n plants 🪴. Illegal watering. 3-4 times a week! Only limit to 2x per week 11. No vacations, no stay-cation. 12. Doesn't know how 2 cook at all. His wife have been shopping 🛍 & cooking for him daily. Don't dine out. 13. Rarely exercises if u don't count watering plants

@theresacole8714 3 жыл бұрын

What about hearing negative Voices Through taking medication ??

@fonzieskatesurf Жыл бұрын

I have negative thoughts with no medication, 45yrs old here

@small_fries7573 Жыл бұрын

Hope the following msg helps u! Here's some encouragement to motivate you! My neighbor, Maria, at age 55 is weighing over 200 pounds. She works, but she has no heart to exercise. No walking around no jogging, absolutely zilch! She drinks, smokes 🚬, and eats unhealthy. She can barely walk straight. In fact she walks like side to side. Her mom near her 90s cooks 🍳 and do all the yard work. Poor old lady! She tells her daughter to cook and do chores only to get scolded by Maria! Wow, so lazy and heartless! U r much better! YOU ARE FREAKIN, PRECIOUS AND UNIQUE! Wish u accept Jesus Christ as your Savior so u can go to heaven after this life. God doesn't expect you to be perfect nor sinless. He just wants u to believe in Him as your Savior for your sins so u can go to heaven after this life.