With over half of Americans with a mental illness under the belief that they neither need nor want help (The Commonwealth Fund, 2025), it can be hard to cut through the misconceptions people face when they suffer. Unfortunately, stigma around mental health only makes this more complicated, and finding emotional support for older adults can be a lifelong journey due to the lack of mental health education for many seniors. So, how can you overcome these difficulties of mental health and aging?
Below, we offer mental health education on stigma and senior care so that you can:
So, read on to find out how help is available right here in Jacksonville today.
Many seniors face both external and internal stress due to stigma when it comes to mental health difficulties. This fact means that many try to hide their mental health problems, and so you have to look for more subtle clues related to the suffering someone might be experiencing, such as:
These all grow from an internalization of negative messages (O Conner, 2011), often throughout someone's life. They will believe that displaying these things will mean they are showing weakness and that they should be doing better. These feelings can lead to a stoic attitude where a senior will not express any form of emotion or seek help.
Over time, this has meant that around one in four adults now report not having social or emotional support (CDC, 2024), whether or not that is actually the case. People often feel as though they cannot approach others and may withdraw to avoid questions or concerns from their peers, as they do not think they have an "acceptable" answer for others.
It is on those around them to reassure loved ones that they are not a burden, and that even "non-physical" issues are something people can seek out help with. Additionally, by acknowledging these, a person will not suddenly lose their cherished independence.
For many seniors, this long-standing belief has led to a distrust in therapy or simply a lack of knowledge of what it entails. Seniors may thus feel hesitant to engage with it out of fear of the unknown.
Those caring for seniors need to understand that failing to resolve these issues can lead to them snowballing or "spiraling". Without any emotional outlet, such as during a period of grief, people can soon experience significant fatigue due to the energy needed to hold onto such emotions.
The stress of this can worsen both a person's mental and physical health, causing further problems and leading to cognitive decline. Then, the loss of ability from such a decline impacts confidence, increases anxiety, and can often lead to a constantly escalating issue.
Sadly, retirement, even in assisted living, can lead to a cut in social ties. A lack of mobility due to physical limitations then exacerbates this, further raising the risks of isolation. People often have fewer opportunities to discuss problems with others and may withdraw further.
While the use of alcohol is not a healthy way to express emotion, many seniors may have used it throughout their lives to help them open up among friends. Sadly, the health issues caused by intoxication may mean they can no longer leverage it as a crutch for emotional expression. They may then not know how to express themselves, leading to further fears that others will judge them if they are not intoxicated while being emotional.
We ensure that we promote the fact that we offer emotional supportwhen we notice that someone is experiencing emotional difficulties. The simple opportunity to talk to our staff can be invaluable for many seniors, helping them adapt to new changes in their lives, as well as the changes that come with moving into a senior living community or facing loss.
Early attention, such as this, can foster empowerment, reducing feelings of helplessness. We then encourage families to engage with their loved ones to help them improve in the long term.
For the seniors themselves, we ensure that they engage in social engagement opportunities whenever possible, giving them the chance to discuss their issues with others who may have gone through similar situations. Peer assistance like this can be imperative in normalizing discussions and allowing seniors to continue to open up when they need to.
We also work hard to prevent a culture of judgment. Within our community, we discourage things that might cause people to feel ashamed or silenced, and understand that mental health is just as "real" as physical health. As such, we prioritize them the same, as issues with one can often lead to problems in another.
Our goal is to build trust in mental health systems and in us, thereby reducing the likelihood that someone will avoid them. To help with this, we ensure that those who need privacy when discussing their issues get it.
We will not openly discuss one's problems and instead aim to provide someone with the tools to help themselves, while discouraging them from feeling anxious about doing so. Whether people choose to open up during one of our senior activities or late at night among close friends, we ensure that options are available.
Stigma around mental health is a powerful force, but programs here at Discovery Village at Deerwood offer structure, support, and education to assist seniors in overcoming many of the things preventing them from opening up. Together with our SHINE® Memory Care program, we can ensure that seniors get the help they need.
If you are ready to learn more about how we provide stigma-free emotional wellness support, book a tour today. Discover how Discovery Village at Deerwood is different.