Eating disorders in the over-60s DOUBLE while self-harm incidents soar by up to 50%

Millions of pensioners are suffering anxiety and depression in a hidden mental health epidemic among the elderly, a charity has warned.

Hospital admissions for eating disorders have doubled among women over-60 since 2015, says Age UK.

And official figures show the number requiring treatment for self-harming is up by almost 50 per cent in the same period.

The charity said the ‘heartbreaking’ figures are proof the mental health of older people has long been neglected.

It warned that the problem will get worse this winter with millions worrying about rising energy and food bills.

Caroline Abrahams, Age UK’s Charity Director, believes the problem has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

She said feeling depressed or anxious should ‘not be viewed as being an inevitable part of ageing’ and urged anyone feeling out of sorts to see their GP.

She said: ‘It’s heartbreaking to think that some older people may be experiencing anxiety, depression or severe mental health problems and, for one reason or another, are not reaching out to get the help that they need and deserve.’

NHS talking therapies have a higher success rate for older people than younger people, but older people are typically under-referred, she added. Despite accounting for a fifth of the population, just 5.6 per cent of referrals to NHS talking therapies last year were for people over 65.

On World Mental Health Day, Age UK has appealed for the elderly to get parity of care for mental illness as well as physical.

Data from NHS Digital shows hospital admissions for self-harming had risen among women over-60 from 5,501 in 2015 to 7,515 in 2019.

Meanwhile, those admitted for eating disorders increased from 52 in 2015 to 92 four years later, with experts suggesting this is the tip of the iceberg.

A Government spokesman said: ‘We will invest an additional £2.3billion per year into mental well-being services by 2024, giving two million more people the help they need.

‘As laid out in Our Plan for Patients, we will improve the availability of mental health support for all ages – including access to NHS talking therapies – so people can get the care they need, when they need it.’

• A scheme to help people with anxiety and depression back into work is being rolled out nationally on the NHS. Ministers announced a £122 million package with 700 employment advisers recruited to work with therapists to help up to 100,000 people a year into jobs.

Health Secretary Therese Coffey said: ‘Offering employment support to people under the care of NHS mental health services will help them start, stay and succeed in work – improving their wellbeing and resilience as well as growing our economy.’