NZ Mental Health

One of our project ideas (our main focus) looks at improving the happiness of people (probably the elderly living at home and not in an elderly community). The graph below is from a 2014/2015 study of mental health from the Ministry of Health and shows a dramatic increase in those seeking support for mental health issues. Unfortunately it is stated that the data for those over 65 is incomplete.

http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/mental-health-and-addiction-service-use-2014-15

According to the Age Well website which promotes wellbeing for older people in New Zealand, there are many reasons why depression is not diagnosed in older people.

http://www.agewell.org.nz/health_depression.html

This article discusses the prevalence of loneliness in New Zealand's elderly: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/76229784/One-in-10-elderly-Kiwis-could-be-socially-isolated-Age-Concern-says
The suicide rates among elderly can be seen here and it is clear that there is a drastic rise in suicide rates amongst elderly men.http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/snapshots-of-nz/nz-social-indicators/Home/Health/suicide.aspx

Through this data it is clear that there is an issue of mental wellbeing in New Zealand which despite being addressed more and more, appears to lack help for the elderly.