Mental Health Across the Lifespan

By Nicole Houck

Mental health and associated struggles are not one-size-fits all, especially when it comes to age. There are various ways that age and psychology interact. For example, there are certain disorders that can only be diagnosed after a person has reached a specific age. There is even an entire field of psychology dedicated to understanding how we grow and change throughout life: Lifespan development. If you want to learn more about how our psychology can change at different ages, keep reading!

Children and Adolescents

Prevalence

• Childhood mental, behavioral, and/or developmental disorders increased between 2016 and 2021.

  • According to this study.

• In 2022 and 2023, only about 9% of 6-11 year olds were diagnosed with anxiety. 

  • However, these diagnoses tend to increase with age, evidenced by the 16% of 12-17 year olds with the anxiety diagnosis.

Other Factors

• Children of parents who reported a lack of social support or neighborhood safety had increased rates of mental, behavioral, and/or developmental disorders.

  • Read more here.

• Exposure to certain things in infancy, childhood, and adolescence may be associated with adverse health and mental health outcomes.

  • Pollution

  • Infection

  • Abuse and neglect

  • Social stress

  • Poor diet

  • Lack of sleep

• Early intervention programs can help parents identify and tackle mental health concerns in their children.

Young Adults

Prevalence

• 1 in 3 young women report having a mental health condition.

  • Read more about women’s mental health at this link.

• Young adults have the highest prevalence of mental illness compared to other age groups.

  • One study found the prevalence was higher in females (26.4%) than in males (19.7%).

Other Factors

• Persistent inflammation can weaken or damage parts of the nervous system.

  • This article is specifically about brain health and age.

• Good sleep helps preserve gray matter in adult brains.

• Building healthy habits now can protect young adults against mental issues later on in life.

Middle-aged and Older Adults

Prevalence

• 1 in 8 older women report having a mental health problem.

• It is common for older adults to have issues with sleep.

• A study reported that, as of 2022, over 50 million adults have a mental illness.

  • But, only about half receive treatment in a given year.

Other Factors

• Perimenopause and menopause can cause hormonal changes impacting mental health and wellbeing.

• Some studies have found that improving gut health can improve cognitive abilities in older adults.

  • Ex: Taking prebiotics and probiotics.

• Poor sleep quality throughout the lifespan is associated with higher risks of dementia later in life.

It is important to keep in mind how our mental health can change as we age. Talk to your doctor if you have noticed anything new that might be worth mentioning. And, of course, you can always try therapy! Visit our website to start your therapy journey today.