BMC Geriatrics welcomed submissions to our Collection on Depression, anxiety and mental health in aging. Mental health is a growing area of concern for older people, with disorders such as depression and anxiety becoming increasingly prevalent, affecting an estimated 1 in 4 older adults. These can result from changes in physical health, bereavement and other events impacting individuals such as alterations in medications, loneliness or retirement. If not addressed, poor mental health may cause lasting harm to older people.
In support of UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) "To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages", BMC Geriatrics launched a collection on mental health in aging.
This collection aimed to focus on research about mental health in older people, including depression and depressive symptoms, anxiety and anxiety symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder, isolation and loneliness, stigma about mental illness, as well as access to health services to manage these symptoms.
We were interested in qualitative and quantitative evidence pertaining to a wide variety of aspects, with key topics including, but not limited to:
- Mood and anxiety disorders and the symptoms of these conditions in older people
- Age related changes in previously diagnosed disorders
- Interaction of physical and mental health
- Access to mental health services
- Older adults’ experiences as mental health care service users
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