Depression and Disability

As you age your body starts to fail you in ways it gave you independence only a decade earlier.  Once easy mobility has now become your daily ‘Everest’ to undertake.  As frustrations mount and the feeling of neglect rise within, depression is logically soon to follow.

Older people with physical disabilities like their younger counterparts need resources and policies to help them adapt to disability to help give a higher life satisfaction. Disability is closely associated with the use of health and social services, however older people in general require more care.  As a result of the rising costs, policy discussions have begun across the world on how to utilize funding, in regards to senior services or care. (Guralnik, 1997)

I believe the policies in Canada should reflect the need to help seniors and others with physical disabilities adapt in hopes of limiting the rates of depression amongst them.  Though medication and counseling are an option, many seniors don’t consider their behavior ‘depressive’ and may not seek assistance.  I believe more subtle social policies should be created to reduce depression.   It has been proven that regular exercise and maintaining or increasing social contact can prevent depression(Mcpherson,2010).  However mobility can be challenging for people with physical disability and exercise can be even harder in seniors who don’t have the same energy.  I believe new policies need to be introduced such as; Larger subsidies from the government to reduce the cost of programs for participants, more programs with low impact movements like those that are available through the Winnipeg Leisure Guide and easier access to transportation, like Handi- Transit to access these programs.  A large proportion of the disabled elderly people currently live outside institutions (Melzer, 1999), making these exercise programs a way for them to socialize, which inadvertently deters depression.  Social-based resources are critical for modifying the effects of stress on mental health.(Pearlin, 1999)

I believe that seeing people with a disability out exercising and successfully adapting to their challenges will help society see their misconceptions about people with a disabilities’ ability.  Hopefully, seeing that people with a disability are still members of society and deserve the same quality of respect they’ve come to expect others to show them. Society as a whole needs to increase the sense of support, motivating creative coping efforts and giving security as a “psychological safety net” if these efforts were to fail. (Bolger, Zuckerman, & Kessler, 2000).  Unfortunately people who acquired a physical disability early on in life are less likely to feel that support, as these limitations are likely to make them appear more prominently different to others, thereby increasing the risk of stigma and discrimination. Consequently depression rates tend to be even higher with younger people than older people with a disability. 

Depression can dramatically affect your quality of life and as a society our policies need to reflect a more holistic view on life. 

Bolger, N, Kessler, R, & Zukerman, A. (2000). The support and adjustment to stress . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79(6), 953-961.

Guralnik, F. (1997). Disablility in older adults: evidence regarding significance, etiology and risk. I Am Geriatric Soc., 92-100.

McPherson, L. (2010, November). Don't be sad. Winnipeg's Health & Wellness, 42.

Melzer, D. (1999) Profile of disability in elderly people: estimates from a longitudinal population study. British Medical Journal

Pearlin, L.  (1986). "Coping and Social Supports: Their Functions and Applications." In Applications of Social Science to Clinical Medicine and Health Policy. NJ: Rutgers University Press.

Tung, H. (2010). Aging & Mental Health. 14(7), 851-860.

Holly L