Older person’s mental health: Considerations for psychological practice

Abstract

The first chapter of this thesis is a qualitative evidence synthesis via meta-ethnography, exploring the views of psychological professionals working with older people. A search was conducted via relevant databases and a total of 10 qualitative studies met inclusion criteria. Six themes, or third-order constructs, were developed from the aggregated findings. These are presented in the context of the original studies, with professionals’ age, stage of training, and cultural background considered for accordance and divergence between the studies’ findings. Implications are discussed, which suggest an increase in older person psychology is much needed during professional training, supported with adequate supervision. Tighter inclusion criteria, i.e., by way of professional group or country, may have served in providing specificity and relevance for specific psychological organisations.
The second chapter reports a qualitative study exploring the views, perspectives, and experiences of older people with depression and their contemplations of meaning and purpose in life. Five older patients of older person community mental health teams contributed to the data via semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed via Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Three themes were developed: Living a Full Life; Developing the Self; and, Connecting Past, Present, and Future. Relationships with family, friends, and wider community were established as important for continued meaning and purpose, as was the continuation of learning and self-development. Time, in terms of perspectives of the future and regret from the past was seen differently by those at varying points along the depression trajectory. Again, a tighter inclusion criteria is commented on as a point for future research given the divergence of participants’ current level of depression within the sample. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

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