Elderly Depression:
A Public Health Issue 
Many researchers identify why depression in the elderly is a serious public health problem. This could be because the elderly population is vulnerable and usually consisted of frail, weak, and helpless people. This may be the case, however, researchers are actually implying that there are reasons why depression in the elderly is considered a public health problem. The prominent reasons identified are due to ignorance, shame, and prevailing suicide rates among the elderly population.
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IGNORANCE
SHAME
SUICIDE
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According to Lapid and Rummans (2003), depression in the elderly is more difficult to recognize than younger individuals and the elderly are usually less spontaneous or open to describe it. Similarly, Gordon (2000) states that depression in the elderly is a public problem because generally the elderly are not even aware of the symptoms of depression and just consider their depressed feelings as a normal part of aging. Additionally, Miller (2000) addresses the connection between depression and bereavement among the elderly. He stated that usually older people find it hard to recognize depression because they believe their sadness is part of the bereaving process when their loved ones pass away. As a result, depression among the elderly is often undetected, which causes impaired physical, mental, and social functioning that burdens families and the community.
Another reason why depression in the elderly is a public health problem is due to the shame they experience in times of sadness or hopelessness. Zullo (2004), states that the elderly ignores the blackness that has overcome them because it is difficult for them to change their beliefs on depression, which was in their time considered to be a weakness and a result of one's flawed character. Similarly, in the issue of shame, the Psychiatric Institute of Washington (2005) reveals that the elderly commonly believe that it is a humiliation to be considered mentally ill and it is embarrassing to show their symptoms to the public. For this reason, that is why the elderly are unwilling and would rather not discuss their depressed state or feelings with a health professional. Consequently, their depression is left undiagnosed and untreated, which can jeopardize their safety and the public's.
The risk of suicide is a serious concern among the depressed elderly. The prevalence of suicide is another reason why researchers consider depression in the elderly population a public health problem. Statistics indicate that approximately 19% of all deaths by elderly at the age of 65 and over are due to suicide (HealthyPlace, 2006). According to Gallo & Rabins (1999), the elderly who consider themselves insignificant and have expressed feelings of hopelessness usually admit to thoughts of death or notions of suicide. Moreover, Beers, Berkwits, Jones, Kaplan, & Porter (2005) state that the reason why suicide rates are high among the elderly is because they are less likely than younger patients to seek or respond to offers of help to prevent suicide.
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