The Cairns Post
New research shows people over 65 in Cairns have almost half the rates of mental health conditions and more than half the levels of psychological distress than other age groups.
Like many people in the 65 and over age group, 73-year-old Edmonton woman Ms Wildish feels happier than at any other time in her life.
And new data from Mental Health Australia shows people over the age 65 in Cairns are among the happiest in Australia.
The Mapping Mental Health projects shows that while 21.7 per cent of people in Australia experienced high levels of psychological distress between 2020 and 2021, it was just 8 per cent of people aged over 65 in Cairns.
Being a senior citizen often means less responsibilities and a time to “discover who you really are”. Picture: Stewart McLean
This compares to 35 per cent of people aged 18 and 24 in Cairns, and 17 per cent of people aged between 25 and 44 experiencing high levels of psychological distress.
“For me, I think my journey to happiness I think started about 20 years ago. Prior to that I didn’t think you could be happy in this world, I thought you had to wait until the next life,” Ms Wildish said.
She ended a relationship she found unhealthy, and against the advice of many, in her mid-50s packed up and moved to Brighton, UK with just $1300 left in the bank.
“It was the best thing I did,” she said.
Today back in Australia she said a combination of meditation, laughter and spiritual fulfilment have left her content and feeling as though she can take on any challenge.
The Mapping Mental Health Data showed the biggest disparities in generations were in rural parts of the Far North – with 38 per cent of people experiencing high levels of distress in the 18-24 bracket, while it sits at 7 per cent for the over 65s.
The project also showed that 25 per cent of people aged between 15 and 24 in Cairns have a long term mental health disorder, while this only occurred in 11 per cent of people aged 65 and over.
Australian Psychological Society CEO Dr Zena Burgess said while there are older people who need more mental health support, mental ill-health is not as prevalent or severe compared with other population groups.
“Much of the reason behind the figures is likely that older people are more emotionally resilient than younger cohorts, having lived through many stages and transitions,” Dr Burgess said.
“Older people are also typically less impacted by mortgage, rent and cost of living pressures.”
Dr Burgess also added that “while young people are more at risk of stress and anxiety due to issues such as climate change, employment, relationship and parenting challenges which is far more impactful on their life and future”, people over 65 are often “free from work-related stress or the stress of raising a family although they may be facing health concerns”.
While 38 per cent of young people in rural parts of the Far North say they have experienced high levels of distress in the last 12 months, just 7 per cent of people over 65 say they have experienced it. FILE PHOTO
University of the Third Age president Maria Donkers said: “You know what you want as you get older. You also don’t have the same commitments, you don’t have family, work, you can concentrate on getting to know yourself.”
The data revealed that people who were unemployed, live in single parent households or come from higher-middle income groups were more likely to have high levels of distress and mental health conditions.
Employed people and people on the highest incomes were the happiest.
More Coverage
‘Like a tsunami’: Trauma expert reveals challenge of PTSD treatment
‘Wondering what to do’: Seniors group homeless after 15 years
“It gets down to choices,” Ms Wildish said.
And by that she doesn’t just mean the choices we make, but the choices available to us.
“I have my own life now, I have my own money, I make decisions for myself.”