THE mental health and wellbeing of older people is being promoted by a county NHS foundation as part of World Mental Health Day today (Oct 10).

Led annually by the World Health Organisation, the day is aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues.

This year’s theme is ‘mental health and older adults’ and 2gether is supporting the day by promoting information to help older adults maintain and enhance their emotional wellbeing, as well as offering advice and sources of support.

Professor Jane Melton, 2gether’s clinical director for social inclusion, said: “There is a common misconception that growing older and mental health problems go hand in hand, but this need not be the case.

“While for some people loneliness, isolation and the loss of independence can cause depression and a decline in mental wellbeing, there are ways in which we can safeguard our mental health as we grow older.

“Similarly, while memory loss and illnesses such as dementia affect some of us in later life, there are steps we can take to deal with these conditions and continue to live fulfilled and active lives.

“For World Mental Health Day we are offering our professional advice and support to older people, and we’d also encourage friends, relatives and carers to help us by sharing our information with their loved ones and talking to them about how they feel, so that support can be offered where it’s needed.”

A new 2gether leaflet has been produced for World Mental Health Day, offering advice on five steps to wellbeing as well as information on memory loss and dementia and details for sources of support, including the Let’s Talk service and Managing Memory 2gether.

The leaflet and other supporting information will be promoted with stands at Morrisons in Hereford, from 10am until 1pm today.