Transforming health-care, social care and community landscapes to optimize the mental health of older adults in Canada

Taking the pulse of older adults, caregivers, health-care providers, researchers, educators, and policy makers

This report highlights the findings of a study conducted for the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) to take the pulse of older adults, caregivers, health-care providers, and other key partners on the mental health of older adults in Canada.

The study aimed to:

• identify population-level trends (in and across partner groups) that highlight important experiences, perspectives, and opinions about the mental health of older adults in Canada
• understand the mental health experiences and inequalities faced by older adults and reveal how they become shaped by forces at play within the broader community and health-care landscapes
• pinpoint key priority areas and related strategies for moving forward.

The overarching aim of this work is to inform, inspire, and engage collaborative efforts to advance the mental health of older adults in Canada.

We hope this report will help:

• elevate the voice of older adults (i.e., people over age 60 years) and other key partners,
• build a foundation of evidence-informed principles, values, and strategies, and
• stimulate collaborative actions from coast to coast to coast to foster conditions and environments that optimize the mental health and healthy aging outcomes and experiences of older adults.