Mind the age gap: making mental health matter across the life course

This report from the the International Longevity Centre (ILC) finds that serious mental health conditions are hampering people’s ability to live more fulfilling long lives.

The report highlights that older people are less likely to seek support for mental health due to stigma and generational taboos, with internalised ageism adversely affecting the psychological wellbeing of older people. This can further compound older people’s mental health issues and highlights inequitable access to mental health support between different age groups.

The ILC make several recommendations to governments and health leaders to support the mental health of people throughout their longer lives. Though not housing specific, recommendations include implementing specific interventions and pathways to care for different age cohorts, re-evaluating the value of investment in mental healthcare and embedding new interventions and technologies into care pathways to improve accessibility and outcomes.