How does it feel to be an older adult with a mental health concern in a rural community?
“You have to watch what you say, you never know how it will affect someone. When people cross the street to avoid me, I can’t stop thinking about it.
Mental health is a major health issue in Canada. With our aging population, mental health concerns are increasing in this age group. The number of adults 50 and over continue to increase, especially in rural areas, and there is little information about their experiences with mental health concerns. Our research sought to understand the experience of adults 50 and over with mental health concerns in rural areas. Princeton was chosen for our research due to its location and demographics; in Princeton, 55% of people are 50 or older, and 82% of the population qualify as low income. We looked at this age because of significant, common transitions that affect mental health (e.g., new physical health conditions, retirement). Eight participants were a part of this research study and all had a mental health concern. Continue reading