Gordon Lishman‚ Director General of Age Concern England‚ said:

“It’s scandalous that older people are often denied access to vital mental health services because they’re deemed too old.  The services that do exist for older people are often chronically under funded and are not of the same quality to those offered to adults of working age.

“Our Down‚ but not out campaign found that an astounding eight out of ten older people^[1] with clinical depression don’t ever get treatment. Most psychological therapy services for depression exclude people aged 65 and older‚ despite the risk of depression increasing with age in later life.

“The Government must ensure that legislation in the forthcoming Equality Bill to stamp out age discrimination in services and practice is implemented urgently.  The neglect of older people’s mental health ruins lives and cannot be put on the back burner.”

Kate Jopling‚ Head of Public Affairs for Help the Aged‚ said:

“It’s shocking to think that‚ despite the need‚ older people are routinely being denied treatment for mental health services. The date on a birth certificate should not be the measure of whether or not someone receives the help they need for a mental health problem.

“These findings are further evidence of the need for legislation to outlaw age discrimination.  Although the Government is committed to making ageism illegal in the Equality Bill‚ regulations covering health services will come later.  For older people with mental health problems who are being denied lack of appropriate care support‚ this will have devastating consequences. The Government must work toward getting legislation in place sooner rather than later.”