Genk (The Brussels Morning newspaper): Many older adults in Genk, Belgium are overcoming the stigma of seeking psychological help with a 12% increase in those over 60 reaching out for support in 2023.
Patrizia from Genk who’s 64 shared that many folks over sixty still find it hard to seek help because it wasn’t how they were brought up. She mentioned that in the past going to a psychologist was not something people did. However she eventually decided to get help even though she initially went to Hasselt instead of Genk to avoid being seen. In 2023 13,604 people reached out to Centrum Algemeen Welzinswerk Limburg for support with 949 of them being over sixty showing a significant 12 percent increase. The director Alain Bielen mentioned that more women than men seek help and overall more people are reaching out due to various challenges like financial stress homelessness, anxiety, depression, divorce and loneliness in today’s fast-changing world.
What challenges do older adults face when seeking mental health support?
Patrizia who’s been through tough times has sought support from CAW Limburg for the second time. A few years back she faced challenging events like losing both her grandparents and having to leave her flat. Despite friends suggesting she see a psychologist she was hesitant at first due to the stigma around it. However being from a social work background herself she eventually sought help. She felt conflicted about needing help despite being someone who supported others in need. This led her to seek assistance at CAW in Hasselt.
Patrizia went through a tough time again after a burglary triggered old fears from her childhood. She felt scared to even leave her house or answer the doorbell. She reached out for help at CAW through De Sfeer. The people there were kind and didn’t push her to share everything at once. Now she’s doing better not as scared of the doorbell and finds comfort in helping others as a volunteer. She still sees her counselor Micha regularly appreciating the professional support and distance it offers compared to talking to friends. This ongoing help gives her stability and guidance to manage her fears.
Patrizia thinks some older folks feel shy about getting help. She now tells others to go for it. She volunteers at De Seer and suggests CAW for extra support. She says it’s okay to ask for help especially for things like feeling lonely, anxious, or sad. Micha helps both young and older people. Older folks often have tough issues from their long lives which can even affect their bodies. Young folks focus more on finding themselves while older ones deal with lots of things like feeling alone, sad, or struggling in relationships. Some older folks hesitate to seek help like those in their fifties and sixties going through a divorce.
