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Age discrimination in mental health services needs to be understood
- Author:
- ANDERSON Dave
- Journal article citation:
- Psychiatrist (The), 35(1), January 2011, pp.1-4.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
This paper, by a hospital consultant and lecturer in old age psychiatry, states that with an ageing population comes age discrimination in mental health services. He suggests this discrimination appears more pronounced than in other areas of health and social care. Quantitative, financial evidence for this is discussed. The relevant legislation in the UK is currently being reviewed and from 2012 it will be unlawful to make unjustified discriminations due to age. This author advises of implications for the organisation and delivery of mental health care, asks and answers what age discrimination is and how age discrimination in mental health has happened? He describes the status of age equality in current legislation, with regard to the Equality Bill (introduced in 2008, now an Act) and details key changes to date and those likely in the future. In a section entitled the population v. individual conundrum, the author describes his and reviews others' views. He goes on to discuss future mental health services, with reference to the Equality Act, the Department of Health’s 2009 New Horizons initiative and other age-inclusive policies. He cautions that these should be understood and implemented without cynicism, in order to offer greater hope for a fair deal for older people in the future.