Mentally Healthy Aging A Report on Overcoming Stigma for Older Americans

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Center for Mental Health Services
www.samhsa.gov

Acknowledgments

Numerous people contributed to the development of this document (see the List of Roundtable Participants). This document was prepared by the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation and the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under contract number 02M00924401D with SAMHSA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Carole Schauer and Paolo del Vecchio served as the Government Project Officers.

Disclaimer

The views, opinions, and content of this publication are those of the authors and contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of CMHS, SAMHSA, or DHHS.

Public Domain Notice

All material appearing in this document is in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission from SAMHSA. Citation of the source is appreciated. However, this publication may not be reproduced or distributed for a fee without the specific, written authorization of the Office of Communications, SAMHSA, DHHS.

Electronic Access and Copies of Publication

This publication may be accessed electronically through the following Internet World Wide Web connection: www.samhsa.gov. For additional free copies of this document, please call SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Information Center at 1-800-789-2647 or 1-866-889-2647 (TDD).

Recommended Citation

Mentally Healthy Aging: A Report on Overcoming Stigma for Older Americans. DHHS Pub. No. (SMA) 05-3988. Rockville, MD: Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2005.

Originating Office

Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1 Choke Cherry Road, Rockville, MD 20857.

DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 05-3988

Printed 2005

Foreword

In 2002, I announced that addressing the needs of older adults with mental illnesses was one of the highest priorities for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Numerous activities have been undertaken, including development of an action plan and a technical assistance center, and targeted capacity expansion grants that provide direct services and build the necessary infrastructure to support expanded services for meeting the diverse men- tal health needs of older adults.

In addition, SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services, with the assistance of the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation and the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign, convened two older adult roundtables of approximately 25 stakeholders each in Washington, DC, in November 2003 and in Los Angeles in January 2004. Roundtable participants were mental health services consumers, researchers, media representatives, grant writers, older adults, advocates, and practitioners. They worked together to identify the impact of stigma and discrimination experienced by older adults, the barriers to eliminating discrimination and stigma, and most important, the strategies and the resources to remove those barriers.

The work of these roundtables is one component of a multifaceted national effort to reduce the stigma and discrimination surrounding people experiencing mental illnesses. Other initiatives have been the Elimination of Barriers Initiative (EBI), and the Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma Associated with Mental Illness (the ADS Center, www.stopstigma.samhsa.gov).

The roundtable participants recommended two education and media campaigns to address discrimination and stigma, promote networking, and coordinate activities specifically among older adults. Action in line with these recommendations will help us to achieve SAMHSA’s vision of “a life in the community for everyone.”

Charles G. Curie, M.A., A.C.S.W.

Administrator Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

 

Contents

Executive Summary

Research Findings on Older Adults and Mental Health

One Man’s Story

Manifestations of Stigma and Discrimination

Barriers to Eliminating Stigma

Strategies to Overcome the Barriers

References

List of Roundtable Participants

“Every time this stigma stuff comes up I smile to myself. This gladdens my heart because I can remember when it wasn’t even discussed. This assembly would never be. That’s one of the advantages to having a few years under your belt. You have a frame of reference. We’re talking, in my view, about changing society. It’s not just in this room, it’s nationwide.”

—Hikmah Gardiner