What Is Stigma in Mental Health and How It Affects Aging Adults

Located near the banks of the Snake River in Burley, ID, Pomerelle Place Senior Living community offers essential support to individuals who have struggled with stigma and mental health issues throughout their lives, particularly during their senior years.

However, what is stigma in mental health, and what can assisted living and awareness of the problem have to do with senior emotional care?

Below, we dig into mental health and aging, and how a legacy of challenges to support has caused a lack of behavioral wellness in seniors, even though the WHO estimates that 14% of seniors face mental health disorders every day. Read on to learn what you can do to ensure you or your loved ones have the support network they need to deal with this issue, and what we do here at Pomerelle Place to help those in our care.

What Is Stigma in Mental Health?

Stigma is a form of negative labelling that affects 70% of those with mental health issues, according to West Health. It exists when people assert truths about someone that are not necessarily valid but often lead to problems for that individual.

For example, rumors and speculation about an individual may lead to them receiving a reputation for something that isn't true, or a response to something they've done may offer an unfair conclusion that people then hold over their heads.

It is crucial to bear in mind that these are not the only examples, but they offer a few key pieces of information: 

1. They are based on negative opinions, accurate or otherwise
2. Those opinions lead to changes in how people act towards someone

There are two primary forms of "stigma" when it comes to mental health. These are external and internal.

External stigma refers to the situation where others form a negative opinion about an individual. This belief may lead to isolating that individual, treating them poorly, or responding negatively to their actions.

Stigma in elder support can be especially harmful, as it then leads to a loss of assistance. It could even lead to a spiral of problems if the person is not given a chance to improve on any issue and is instead portrayed in a negative light.

Internal stigma, on the other hand, is the personal sense that something is wrong with oneself. It can lead to many of the same issues, but in this case, they are self-imposed.

How Does Self-Imposed Stigma Occur?

For many seniors, they have spent a lifetime hearing about how those with mental health issues, especially when older, are:

• A burden on a community
• Senile
• Problematic
• Just getting old

These are not the only epithets and quotes, but the way people speak in this manner can have a profound impact on how someone feels when they, too, begin to grow older.

When they feel that they are a burden, they may begin to feel guilty. They may also not want to show how they are sliding into seniority and try to hide it, keeping themselves away from their friends and family. Doing this then leads to a loss in one's social safety net and sources of support.

How Aging and Isolation Impact Mental Health

When someone pulls away from those around them, they are likely to start feeling lonely. In many cases, the inability to "get younger" can lead to a loss of hope that their life will improve. These feelings can lead to anxiety and depression.

In our Assisted Living service, we aim to ensure that those in our care understand that they are none of these things. Our staff are well-trained in handling issues such as these and will use language that affirms the independence and dignity of our residents.

The Hidden Physical Health Dangers of Stigma

The isolation that stems from stigma, self-created or otherwise, can also trigger further issues. Those who separate themselves, for example, may start to experience an earlier onset of dementia or other problems due to the stress from their circumstances.

This same stress can also have other effects, such as increasing the level of cortisol in someone's body, which can cause their bones to start weakening. This hormonal change can then lead to trips and falls, having serious repercussions in both the short and long term.

How Pomerelle Place Helps Reduce Stigma with Practical Care

We aim to ensure that those who stay with us receive not only positive reinforcement but also understand that we want to help them engage with others. We openly talk about emotional needs, encouraging our residents to engage with one another in a way that allows them to express themselves. At the same time, we offer education and support to help our residents overcome their legacy of stigma, whether it affects them or others.

These efforts align with the pillars of our Vibrant Life efforts. We aim to integrate wellness into the lives of our residents, thereby improving their outlook. We understand that wellness is not a single conversation either. It is an ongoing process, and we hope to instill that in those in our care, helping them to grow in mind, body, and spirit.

For those who regularly visit family, we can also work with them to help those in our care. The same education can provide an opportunity to learn how to support a loved one with any problem they may be going through. It can also help families to understand the things they might say that could accidentally cause a resident to feel anxious.

Over time, both those in our care and those visiting have an opportunity to work together to develop a shared understanding of one another.

Strengthening Minds and Bodies With Real Connection

Answering, "What is stigma in mental health?" and fighting it can lead to a much better quality of life, but doing so can be a challenge. Here in Pomerelle Place, we think that process is worth the effort. For this reason, our Vibrant Life program, among others, can help those in our care make the most of every day they spend with us.

If you would like to learn more about what that means, get in touch and book a tour. Start a stigma-free chapter in your life or the life of a loved one today.