Digital Interventions for Older Adults with Anxiety and Older Adult Narratives of Seeking Mental Health Support for Anxiety for the First Time

Abstract

Objectives: Older adults with anxiety may experience many factors that hinder their ability to seek mental health support. Yet, little qualitative research has explored their journeys to support seeking. This study aimed to explore older adults’ narratives of their journey towards seeking mental health support for anxiety for the first time. Methods: Narrative methodology was used. Nine older adults were interviewed and narrative analysis was used to analyse the data focusing on: how narratives were organised, turning points to seeking support, and how the journey was experienced through positioning. Analysis: Overall, older adults told narratives that described their difficult negotiation with anxiety: which they described themselves as more or less susceptible to; contributed to a changed sense of self or experience of overwhelming emotion (leading them to get support), and as something they attempted to resolve by approaching services. Older adults also described differing experiences of empowerment or powerlessness in their supportseeking journey, such as feeling burdensome. Conclusion: Difficult negotiations with anxiety may have represented the experience of anxiety itself and coming to terms with a stigmatised mental health identity. Health professionals may need to listen for signs of anxiety among a downplaying of symptoms by older adults. Campaigns aimed to destigmatise anxiety but encourage older adults to seek support may be researched further. The analysis also highlights the potential use of acceptance and narrative therapeutic approaches and the importance of empowering older adults by involving them in service development.