Did you know that 20-22% of older adults have a mental health condition like depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder—yet most go undetected and untreated? This isn’t because these conditions aren’t treatable, but because systemic barriers, misconceptions, and a lack of professional training make it harder for older adults to access the care they deserve.
In today’s episode, we break down barriers preventing older adults from receiving the mental health support they need. You’ll learn how common myths about aging impact mental health care, why stigma plays a significant role, and what you can do to change the landscape of care for older adults.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- The major barriers preventing older adults from accessing mental health care
- How common misconceptions about aging contribute to untreated mental health conditions
- Why ageism in health care and mental health professions keeps older adults from getting help
- The connection between mental health, chronic illness, and dementia risk
- How you can help bridge older adults to mental health care
How You Can Help
Older adults deserve access to quality mental health care. Whether you are a mental health professional or someone who works with older adults, you play a key role in bridging the gap.
📢 Want to improve your ability to recognize and address memory concerns in older adults? Download my free training
This 10-minute expert training will help you gain clarity on detecting memory loss in therapy—a crucial skill for ensuring older adults receive the mental health support they need.
Have a topic idea? Send us a text.
👉 Want to Become an Aging Informed Therapist? Join us for our live CE course on 8/21/25 from 12-1:30pm EST. Click here to learn more.
PROFESSIONALS: Grab your free guide to working with older adults here
Attention Social Workers, Therapists, Counselors, Psychologists, Aging Life Care Experts... Click here to get Continuing Education Credits
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