Mental Disorders Among Geriatrics Are One Of The Most...

ABSTRACT Mental disorders among geriatrics are one of the most costly public health dilemmas. Depression, suicidal behavior, and Alzheimer’s are just a few common mental illnesses the elderly suffers from. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention the number of older adults with mental illnesses is predicted to incline drastically. The growth of the population, has caused a burden on numerous healthcare facilities in America and many elderly individuals are less likely to seek a mental health professional. Various organizations continue to promote awareness, and preventative measures to increase longevity. As human being, there are two significant events in our life, birth and death. From conception up until adulthood, ideally should be the peak stages in life. Being jovial, energetic and having optimal health. From adulthood to older age ideally, decline in health is expected, lethargy becomes more prominent and people are more prone to suffer from mental illnesses. The number of older adults with mental illnesses is predicted to incline drastically. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mental illness is defined as any disorder generally characterized by abnormal mood, thought, and/or behavior, that is recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th edition, of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-IV). In the year 2000, an estimate of forty million individuals residing within the United States were