The University of Barcelona and Mental Health Catalonia warn of the challenge in aging and mental health
The Mental Health Federation of Catalonia, in collaboration with the University of Barcelona, has published the study on aging and emotional well-being “Mental health with an age perspective”, an innovative research project aimed at improving the accompaniment of people with mental disorders and family members over 55 years of age. The study was prepared by Bàrbara Mitats, coordinator of services and federative programs, innovation and research at SMC, and Dr. Montserrat Celdrán, professor at the Faculty of Psychology of the UB. In the participatory research process we have counted with the collaboration of the social architect, activist and expert in citizen participation Itziar González-Virós.
The participatory research explores psychosocial factors linked to mental health and aging, helping to outline the challenges in this area. The aim of the research has been to explore key elements to improve support to this group, contributing to define prevention, detection and intervention actions.
The participatory research has been possible thanks to the involvement of 44 people in the participatory process: 23 volunteers (first persons and family members), members of the Advisory Committee and participants in focus groups; and 5 direct care professionals from the Social Clubs service, as well as the 16 institutional representatives as members of the Advisory Council.
The results confirm that, despite being of similar age, family members and people with their own experience do not experience the same challenges and opportunities regarding the aging process.
Incorporating an age perspective in mental health is urgent and a priority.
The research findings highlight several key conclusions:
– Addressing the support needs for people with own experience of mental health and/or family members with an age perspective is urgent and a priority to prevent and promote healthy and dignified aging. It is necessary to continue exploring the situation in the over-aged population, in migrated people or the casuistry of people with diversity of identity and/or sexual orientation, considering the social history and the current increase of hate speeches.
– The associative network offers the conditions to promote protective factors for emotional well-being in old age, such as: facilitating accessibility to resources, promoting and strengthening social support networks, training in mental health, contributing to empowerment, fighting stigma and social isolation, raising awareness, facilitating participation, etc.
– The complexity of care must be approached according to a bidirectional conception. Roles can coexist, change, transform or even reverse, depending on the time of life or personal and family cycles.
– Differences by gender and environment: Women present more situations of vulnerability due to the patriarchal context in which we live and care is still highly feminized. In addition, the environment (urban vs. rural) significantly influences access to resources and support in mental health care.
– Interventions must be intersectional and intercultural: Mental health and aging care and supports must take into account the intersection of factors such as gender, age, environment, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation or origin, in order to ensure healthy and quality aging for all.
Faced with the challenge of population aging and for the emotional well-being of citizens, it is essential to make available the necessary measures and adequate resources to plan the aging process, taking into account diversity and inequalities, with a community approach.
Participatory methodology contributes to social transformation
The report includes the results of the research in three main parts: a bibliographic study on the needs of elderly people with mental disorders and their families, data from a quantitative survey with 399 participants, and qualitative data based on the compilation of two focus groups and the contributions of the people who participated in the Committee and the Advisory Council.
The research was also supported by an Advisory Committee made up of people with their own experience, family members and professionals, and an Advisory Council with representatives of organizations and public administrations.
Participatory research is essential to promote the empowerment of citizens, promote improvements in mental health care and contribute to social transformation for a more dignified and fairer model of support.
For more information on the study “Mental health with an age perspective” and its results, you can consult the complete document here.