Changsha, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Oct. 10 is World Mental Health Day. Low mood, loss of interest, severe insomnia, mood swings...... These are all manifestations of psychological problems. Psychiatrists pointed out that with the advent of an aging society, the physical and mental health of the elderly has become a public health issue of concern, and the psychological problems of the elderly should be detected and intervened as soon as possible.
Yuan Ning, vice president of the Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province and a mental health expert, said that factors such as declining physical function, changes in social roles after retirement, and chronic diseases have caused some elderly people to have anxiety, depression, loneliness and other bad emotions, and if these emotions are not resolved in time, psychological problems may occur.
"Depression and anxiety are common mental illnesses among the elderly." Zhou Jiansong, chief physician of the Department of Psychiatry of the National Medical Center for Psychiatric Diseases and the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, said that depression in the elderly is mainly manifested as sleep disorders, reduced activity, depressed mood, irritability, negativity, etc., and in severe cases, fantasies and delusions may occur. Anxiety disorders in the elderly are mainly manifested as excessive attention to their own bodies, exaggeration or misinterpretation of their own diseases, persistent tension, restlessness, and even somatic symptoms such as gastrointestinal discomfort, palpitations, and headaches.
"Mental health problems of older people urgently need timely intervention." Yuan Ning told reporters that the elderly suffering from mild psychological problems should receive psychological counseling in a timely manner, and if the elderly suffer from serious mental illness, they need to go to a professional medical institution for diagnosis and receive comprehensive treatment such as medication and psychotherapy under the guidance of doctors.
Experts from the Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province conducted a free clinic for an elderly person. Xinhua News Agency
"If the elderly have symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, the family must pay attention to it so as not to delay treatment." Zeng Xianxiang, director of the Department of Sleep Disorders and Neurology of the Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, reminded that in recent years, the number of elderly people suffering from schizophrenia has increased in the hospital, and this kind of disease mostly occurs in the elderly over 65 years old. For elderly patients with schizophrenia, doctors will give medication, psychotherapy, and integrated medicine to help relieve the symptoms.
Zhou Jiansong suggested that family members should give more care to the elderly, and once the psychological abnormalities of the elderly are discovered, they should seek professional help in time and take measures to intervene to prevent the condition from deteriorating; The elderly should learn to regulate bad emotions, accept themselves, adapt to role changes, adapt to old age, participate in some social activities, cultivate some healthy hobbies, and make life full and optimistic; In addition to paying attention to the physical health of the elderly, children should also pay attention to the psychological needs of the elderly, communicate with the elderly frequently, and listen to the voices of the elderly; The elderly should maintain a healthy lifestyle, exercise appropriately, and also take healthy ways to relax, such as meditation, deep breathing, tai chi, etc.
Yuan Ning suggested that the social mental health service system should be further improved, the training of mental health professionals should be strengthened, and social and mental health services for the elderly should be strengthened by strengthening cooperation between communities, families, and hospitals, and home visits and psychological comfort should be carried out for the elderly in need, so as to provide more timely and effective mental health services for the elderly.
Source: Xinhua News Agency