STORIES
CHARLIE SMITH, FEMALE, 79
Charlie Smith (name changed to protect confidentiality) is a 79 year-old-woman who has depression. She explains her experience as bothersome, because in her culture mental illness is seen as unrealistic and if someone has a problem, “they should just deal with it”. Charlie is experiencing what many older adults experience when it comes to having depression. She fears that she is unable to talk about it, because people may judge her or look at her differently. Charlie has had previous suicide attempts and does not like talking about it, because she fears that people will make fun of her and call her weak. Charlie takes antidepressants; however, she still feels emptiness as there is no one that she could open up to about this, and she does not want her family and friends to judge her about seeking mental health care. Stigma creates a significant barrier for older adults, like Charlie, with mental health issues.
MARIA HESS, FEMALE, 67
Maria has been struggling with both depression and anxiety for many years, which got exceedingly worse over the pandemic. During a weekly Wellness Call, she expressed her distress that was caused by her current medications. She waited about a week before consulting the doctor because she "did not want to bother the doctor." Due to her past experiences with doctors, she felt burdensome for seeking help. This serves as an example of how stigma impacts older adults abilities to voice their concerns and seek appropriate treatment. Maria's past interactions with doctors negatively impacted her ability to feel comfortable talking about her mental health and her needs, ultimately affecting both her emotional and physical health.