How Does Stigma Affect Mental Health in Older Adults?
-1.jpg)
Agarwell (2024) confirms that those aged 85 or older are among those most likely to suffer from depression in U.S. society. Unfortunately, stigma among these groups of adults can often lead to them not opening up as they need to, to help them develop robust senior emotional health.
Sadly, this stigma stands between aging and connection with other human beings who may be able to offer mental health support in Shelby, NC, that many people genuinely need.
Read on to answer the question, "How does stigma affect mental health?" and work to improve the outlook of your loved one. Learn how Terrabella Shelby aims to reduce isolation and what it does regularly to bolster the mental health of its residents.
How Does Stigma Affect Mental Health?
Public perception of mental health is, unfortunately, tainted by many stereotypes that display mental illness as a personal failing. Seniors, especially, who believe they should stick to a stoic attitude through even the worst circumstances, are most guilty of this, internalizing many negative beliefs about aging and mental wellness. They often use terms that describe seniors as much more prone to simply failing to remain unemotional, including:
- Doddery
- They're just getting old
- Old fool
- Senile
They will have heard many of these at a young age and now find it hard to shake them. Sadly, the truth is that around 14% of adults who are aged 60+ have a mental health disorder, according to the WHO, and this may then exacerbate this issue further.
For those unable to express themselves and so who have trouble pushing for their health, they are likely to have attitudes towards depression and anxiety that frame them as just a regular part of aging. They will then start to feel guilty when they get older, framing any difficulties they have as a "burden" they are putting on others around them.
Without anyone to turn to, these people will feel intense loneliness, made worse by their withdrawing from others to seem less like a burden and ensure that they do not hurt themselves or others. Sadly, this can then lead to cognitive decline as depression can trigger issues such as Alzheimer's or other mental health conditions.
Why Can't Doctors Help?
With the gap between mental and physical healthcare in America as it is, many people do not have the tools available to seek help for themselves, and doctors often don't even recognize that a mental health condition may be something that needs to be handled. Stigma in memory care makes this even worse, with people having trouble asking for help from peers and healthcare professionals alike.
The hesitance is even worse among subcultures who may be more reluctant to seek support (Alzheimer's & Dementia, 2025), resulting in greater unmet needs among those who may sorely need it.
Exacerbating this is the fact that many public campaigns are more focused on younger individuals. Older generations may not feel like the advertising of help is aimed at them, if they see it at all. Then, those who do are, as mentioned, just as likely to ignore it due to old beliefs.
The Physical and Mental Effects of Stigma
The stress of holding onto an issue, such as an emotional outburst, can have long-term effects on anyone experiencing it. They can trigger feelings of shame that, in turn, impact the brain's chemistry and increase cortisol levels. These can then worsen the symptoms of anxiety and depression in older adults, which isolation then makes even worse by removing any opportunity to express oneself and reducing the stress.
Social isolation then accelerates the chance of people experiencing forms of cardiovascular or kidney disease, according to Zeng et al. (2025), meaning that self-imposed stigma can directly lead to harm.
At the same time, stigma-driven avoidance of group activities impairs how well people engage in cognitive activities. They lower the number of opportunities for social interaction and mental stimulation, deepening disconnection. These then snowball further, eventually appearing as many different symptoms, including:
- Sleep disturbances
- Reduced appetite
- Depression
- Anxiety
To avoid age-related health declines, people need to seek out solutions for their issues rather than allowing them to bottle up further.
Other Causes for a Lack of Support
While stigma is essential to understand, we mustn't discount the other possibilities, such as:
- Cost concerns
- Lack of age-specific services
- Fear of being misunderstood by younger healthcare providers
- Misinformation about therapy only being for "serious" issues
- Lack of education about mental health
- Worries about a lack of confidentiality or privacy
Many of these are even worse in small communities such as Shelby, where the lower population makes the rumor mill stronger and the available services fewer in number.
Support in Shelby for Mental Health Issues
For those who can seek out their own help, options exist to ensure that you or a loved one can learn more about mental wellness and aging. Examples include:
- The Mental Health Association of Cleveland County and further resources
- Peer-led circles at community centers
- County Health Department crisis hotlines
- Mobile crisis units
- NAMI North Carolina presentations by the name of "In Our Own Voice"
Terrabella Shelby's Role in Stymieing Isolation
Here in Terrabella Shelby, we integrate mental wellness efforts not only into daily life, through our Dimensions Health and Wellness program, but we also offer opportunities to seek further help. Our efforts also help normalize memory support in our community, reducing the fear of potential problems that may arise with a person's mental wellness. By doing this, through our Memory Care plan, people can discuss their issues and find solutions that benefit not only themselves but also their peers and family.
Build Connection and Wellness Through Understanding
How does stigma affect mental health? Well, it sets the stage for a great many psychological and physical repercussions, up to and including the potential of severe physical conditions.
If you are planning to visit Terrabella Shelby, know that we offer several ways to participate in inclusive support, and you or your loved one can utilize them to ensure a happier and healthier future.
For more information on any of these, please get in touch. We can offer a scheduled tour to help you explore our community and discover the programs we currently offer.