Líney is a psychologist with specialization in mental health for the elderly from the University of Aarhus. She participated in a conference regarding health care recently, where she spoke about the mental health of the elderly, status and future. "Mental disorders certainly exist at all stages of life, but I mostly work with people who are 75 years old and older, but then age can start to take its toll and the likelihood of certain diseases increases somewhat. If an illness, trauma or some kind of skill impairment manifests itself, the likelihood of stress and anxiety increases for people, which sometimes develops so that people withdraw in society and find it difficult to reverse that development without help."

Often, depression and/or anxiety are accompanied by physical symptoms, such as anti-gravity or other symptoms, which lead to referrals to a family doctor, but Líney accepts referrals from them. “The doctors here are very good at seeing what kind of illness can occur, providing people with a screening list, and if the likelihood of a mental illness is considered, I am called in.”

Social isolation a major public health issue

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), social isolation has increased significantly worldwide. “The WHO has flagged social isolation as a public health issue on the par with alcohol and smoking. It has also been shown that it increases the risk of premature death, cardiovascular disease and 50% of dementia in people who are socially isolated. Of course, there are some variables, such as dysfunction, that are important, but this is still the nature of the problem, and it is very important for us as a society to counteract this.”

Many things can change with age, which can make life difficult for individuals. One of the major risk factors that can encourage social isolation is loss of a spouse, the loss of work and hearing loss. “It’s difficult to get back on your feet after losing a spouse, and things like going to the theatre or travelling alone can be very tricky for individuals. The loss of work is also a major risk factor because so many of us have the main social connections through work. In addition, hearing loss can cause people to have difficulty being in crowds or busy and therefore withdraw. The decrease in skills is also a major factor, people may be more reluctant to do anything if they can only be in comfort at home. But being very alone reduces our cognitive function, which can increase the risk of dementia.” Research also shows that in societies where social isolation is high, economic growth is lower than otherwise, because people are less travelling and private consumption is reduced. People are less likely to attend meetings or cultural events of various kinds.

Breaking the cycle of loneliness is important

Communication is always a challenge. We are always trying to think of new ways to communicate and interact, and to calculate the reactions of others. Therefore, it is very important to try to break the cycle of loneliness and engage people in communication. “It’s not a simple matter, but it’s always part of a psychological approach when people with anxiety and depression come to focus on what can be changed immediately, and so grab the nerve. All forms of social participation are important, participation in courses or exercises for example – people are more likely to participate if they are committed to doing so. For example, if you meet a friend in Bónus and he or she usually says, “No, we have to go see each other,” which is easy to forget, then you should just decide on a date and time immediately. It can be difficult if people have become socially isolated to step back into society. Social skills are just like a muscle that can become weak and needs training. For example, social rehabilitation is attending an event, like a lecture or reading in a store or library, that requires less of you than attending a game night at the community center, for example.”

Routine is good for us

More people than before are reducing their work or even retiring early if they can. "Yes, many people look forward to retiring at this time and being able to spend more time freely. But it's not just a good idea for people to think about their finances at this juncture, but also how they plan to stay socially active. There are many companies and organizations that hold retirement courses for people to help them bridge these stages of life. Many employers also offer people to reduce their work, which is a very good adaptation process. In this way, people can test themselves a little further, even sign up for a course in something interesting in the afternoon that they would not otherwise have done. It is also good to start a little earlier to map the situation before retirement and evaluate, for example, how the social relations are. Do I have a lot of acquaintances all over the place or are most of them at work? What do I do when I stop coming here at 8 every morning, what comes instead? It is very nice to try to organize yourself, especially if there are no hobbies that take up one's time. It is good to do some regular exercise or sign up for some classes so that every day is not the same – for example, I emphasize that people have weekends, so that every day does not run into one. The routine is good for us."