UK Inquiry Into Mental Health And Well-Being In Later Life Report 'Improving Services And Support For Older People With Mental Health Problems

Response from Dr David Anderson, chair of the Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry, The Royal College of Psychiatrists




"This important report reminds us that dementia is not the only serious mental health problem affecting older people. Depression, a life threatening condition and the most common cause of suicide, is three times more common than dementia.



The sequence of powerful reports this year addressing older peoples' mental health must compel government to put this at the top of the national health agenda. What we have actually seen is cuts to specialist services, reduced investment in social care, NICE denying people early treatment, and no attention to acute hospitals where two-thirds of beds are occupied by the elderly, 60% of whom also have a mental illness.



Services are disorganised and too often ineffective.



If we are to address this tidal wave of ill health, there has to be a coherent strategy produced by government involving patients, carers and professionals.



Without specific attention to older peoples' mental health, there will be no solutions to the enormous problems facing health and social care in the UK."


rcpsych.ac.uk