Survey Finds That 60 Percent of Seniors With Depression Won't Seek Treatment

United Press International reports that a survey from genetic testing company Myriad Neuroscience indicated that 61 percent of senior Americans with depression will not seek treatment. One-third of almost 1,500 respondents 65 and older think they can "snap out" of it in lieu of counseling, drug therapy, or other forms of treatment. Moreover, 39 percent of surveyed seniors felt they could manage their symptoms on their own without clinical help, while 35 percent said they did not want to be on medication for the condition. Thirty percent of older respondents called depression a normal part of aging, while one in three said the symptoms impacted aspects of their lives and one in four said the condition affects their overall health. Of all respondents, which included 650 adults 18 and older, 44 percent of men and 21 percent of women described depression as a normal part of aging. "Many older Americans think that admitting they are struggling with depression and anxiety is a sign of weakness," said Myriad Neuroscience Chief Medical Officer Mark Pollack. "This is a problem, especially now when the isolation, fear, and sadness associated with the pandemic is having an enormous impact on the mental health of older Americans."