.png)
Header Text
6–12 October is Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 in New Zealand, and this year’s theme — “Top Up Together” — is a timely reminder that wellbeing grows stronger when we nurture it together.
We often talk about mental health in younger people, but it’s just as vital in our later years. Across Auckland, we meet older adults carrying quiet burdens: grief, loneliness, or simply the feeling that life has slowed down around them. Too often, those feelings are brushed off as “just part of getting old”. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Depression in older adults is not inevitable — and it’s treatable.
New Zealand data shows that diagnoses of depression and bipolar disorder among people aged 65+ was around 130,000 in 2020/21.
Yet many older adults never get the support they need, often because they or others mistake symptoms for “just ageing” or physical decline.
Signs of depression can look different in older adults. Slowed speech, loss of interest, poor sleep, or reduced appetite might seem small, but they can point to deeper exhaustion. Listening carefully — without rushing, dismissing, or “cheering up” — makes a real difference.
Sometimes we assume we know how someone feels. A family might plan a big celebration for an older relative’s birthday, imagining joy and gratitude, only to find that the person feels overwhelmed, not festive.
It’s a reminder to check in before we act. Ask, “What would make that day special for you?” rather than assuming you know. The same goes for mood: instead of “How are you?”, try “What’s been going on for you lately?” or “What’s been feeling heavy these days?”
Small, specific questions open bigger doors.
The Mental Health Foundation’s Five Ways to Wellbeing — Connect, Be Active, Keep Learning, Take Notice, and Give — are simple, evidence-based ways to strengthen mental health at any age. For older adults, they can be adapted to suit pace, ability, and life stage.
| Wellbeing Action |
Why It Helps |
Practical Ideas for Older People |
| Connect |
Social connection protects against depression and loneliness. |
Join a coffee club, walking group, or community activity. A friendly chat or regular visit can make a big difference. |
| Be Active |
Movement boosts energy and brain function. |
Try gentle walking, tai chi, gardening, or seated exercise classes. Consistency is key, not intensity. |
| Keep Learning |
New experiences build confidence and purpose. |
Learn a language, try a new recipe, volunteer, or join a hobby group. |
| Take Notice |
Mindfulness helps balance emotions and find calm. |
Pause to notice nature, keep a gratitude journal, or savour a cuppa mindfully. |
| Give |
Helping others fosters belonging and meaning. |
Offer your time, share skills, or mentor someone younger. |
Good mental health isn’t about constant positivity, it’s about balance. It’s okay to feel sadness, worry, or loss. What matters is not staying stuck there alone.
Major life changes like losing a partner, retirement, or reduced independence can all shake confidence and purpose. After bereavement, older adults often lose social connections built through caregiving. That’s a key time to rebuild — even a small step like visiting a local group, joining a support circle, or reconnecting with friends helps the healing process.
Older migrants can face extra challenges: language barriers, small family sizes, or adult children moving overseas can leave them isolated. Cultural and language-based groups are powerful antidotes to that disconnection.
Research in Aotearoa and overseas points to clear protective factors:
On the flip side, alcohol and isolation tend to deepen low mood. When someone says, “I’m fine,” but their world has recently changed — a death, illness, or loss of mobility — it’s worth trying gentle follow-up questions.
Older people’s feelings matter. They deserve to be heard, supported, and taken seriously, not brushed aside. The myth that “there’s nothing left to look forward to” couldn’t be more wrong: connection, creativity, and meaning can flourish at any age.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, let’s Top Up Together:
Later life can hold as much growth, joy, and wisdom as any other stage. With understanding, respect, and connection, we can make sure no one feels left behind.