A new national survey looked at the prevalence of service use as well as the social, demographic and need factors associated with the utilization of mental health services among adults who are 55 years of age and older. The survey had a large, representative sample of Canadians. Secondary data from the Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-Being (CCHS 1.2) was used.
Results showed that over 60 percent of adults of 55 years and older who met the criteria for a DSM-IV disorder were not using mental health services, and that social and demographic factors did not predict service use among this population.
See “Mental Health Care Use in Later Life: Results from a National Survey of Canadians,” Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (March 2010; 55[3]: 157-164), at publications.cpa-apc.org.