Addressing the Rising Mental Health Needs of an Aging Population

Existing systems are not prepared to provide the mental health care services needed by the growing population of older adults. The National Academies Forum on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders hosted a public workshop in May 2023 to highlight the current state of mental health care for older adults, outline the challenges they face, and explore potential long-term strategies and solutions for addressing unmet mental health needs. Discussions emphasized information about wellness and prevention, social determinants of health in aging populations, the impact of workforce shortages and gaps, the need for supportive healthy communities, and strategies to promote positive mental health.This publication summarizes the presentations and discussion of the workshop.