Secretary-General Urges Coordinated Social Services to Address Older

 

Persons’ Mental Health, in Message for International Observance

 

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on World Mental Health Day:

People around the world are increasingly aware that our human family is “greying”, with the proportion of those aged 60 and over expected to double this half century.  From just over 605 million older persons in 2000, there will be an estimated 2 billion by 2050.

We can all benefit from the warmth and wisdom of older generations.  But, while many people look forward to a fulfilling old age, more than one in five adults aged 60 and over experiences mental or neurological disorders, such as dementia and depression.

Health-care professionals and older people themselves often do not recognize these mental health problems.  Worse, people are frequently reluctant to seek help because of the stigma surrounding mental illness.  Older adults are also vulnerable to physical neglect and shameful mistreatment — abuse that can, itself, trigger mental health problems.

This year’s World Mental Health Day focuses on older adults, offering an opportunity to raise awareness of these problems and overcome them.

We have a path forward.  In May, the World Health Assembly adopted a Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan to the year 2020. It recognizes that social and health services must come together to provide an effective response to mental health problems.  The Plan also calls for taking account of health and social needs at all stages of life, from infancy through childhood, adolescence, adulthood and older age.

On this World Mental Health Day, I call for greater efforts to carry out the Action Plan for the sake of all people with mental health problems, especially those who are older and require special attention.  This compassionate response will benefit all of society.

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For information media • not an official record