Epidemiology of Mental Health Conditions in Older Adult Women

Globally, women are two times more likely to experience a mental health condition compared with men. Older women are at increased risk for mental health conditions. Social and political factors, such as decreased access to mental health services, the recent COVID-19 pandemic, and structural racism, also drive the increased incidence and prevalence of mental health conditions among women, especially older women. Although understanding of the epidemiology and associative factors of mental health conditions among older women has significantly increased, programs designed to specifically address mental health needs of older adult women should provide culturally sensitive, individually tailored treatment to obtain mental wellness. This chapter focuses on the epidemiology of mental health conditions among women aged 65 years or older living in the United States (U. S.) and presents the etiology of mental health conditions, including risk and protective factors, and the estimated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.