Elderly face mental health 'crisis'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

More than 3.5 million older people in the UK who experience mental health problems do not have enough support or adequate services, according to a new report.

Problems in mental health are far more widespread than people think, it said.

Up to 2.6 million older people - one in four of those over 65 and two in five of those over 85 - are suffering depression or serious symptoms of depression. Meanwhile, one in five people over 80 suffer from dementia.

The report, from the UK Inquiry into Mental Health and Well-Being in Later Life, involved experts from the London School of Economics, Royal College of Nursing and Age Concern.

The study condemned age discrimination in treating older people, who can suffer from a lack of independence, loneliness and long-term illness.

It made 35 recommendations for ways to improve mental health services, including challenging stigma, ageism and defeatism, working on preventing problems, and tackling ignorance.

Other recommendations included improving housing, health and social care services, and calling on the Government to overturn "years of under-funding" in older people's mental health.

The study warned that the current situation will only get worse in the future.

It predicts that 3.5 million older people will have symptoms of depression and almost a million will have dementia by 2021, unless there are effective interventions.