We are concerned about the pervasiveness of ageism, specifically targeted against older adults, in American society.
Ageism is prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination based on age. Ageism in mental healthcare is a significant barrier to quality treatment for older adults. Negative attitudes can be internalized by older adults themselves, leading to a reluctance to seek help. At the same time, psychotherapists and other healthcare professionals may hold ageist biases that impede their ability to provide effective and compassionate care. Insights into Aging aims to combat ageism through education and increasing awareness.
If you are interested in learning more about ageism, here are a few resources we recommend:
Gerodiversity is fundamental to understanding older adults.
A person’s identity is shaped by many interconnected variables beyond age, such as ethnicity, gender identity, physical ability, socioeconomic status, and chronic health concerns. It is important to consider both cultural competency and cultural humility. Cultural competency is the skills and knowledge to work with different cultures and belief systems. Cultural humility is the ongoing process of self-reflection and empathy when honoring their beliefs, customs, and values of another person.
If you want to know more about the specialization of clinical geropsychology, here are a few resources we recommend:
An important term to learn if you want to know more about aging and mental health is Clinical Geropsychology.
Geropsychology is the specialized field of psychology concerned with the psychological, behavioral, biological, and social aspects of aging.
