SOAR Project Lay Summary Supporting Older adults with low mood to Access care in Rural areas

Please see a message from Jo-Anne Darrant, PhD Student at Keele University. Jo is conducting research as part of her PhD research.

The research looks at mental health support for older adults in rural areas. In this study, older adults are people aged 60 and over.

Older adults face mental health issues like anxiety and depression. They experience these problems just as often as younger people. However, ageing brings specific challenges. These include loneliness, loss, and physical health problems. These challenges can lead to poor mental health.

Older adults are less likely to seek help for their symptoms. Sometimes, families or doctors think these symptoms are just a normal part of ageing. Because of this, mental health needs are often missed or untreated. People in rural areas face extra barriers. These include transport issues, fewer services, and poor internet.

Research Objectives

This project will help us to understand how older adults manage their mental health. We want to see how they seek help. We also want to design a new way to support them.

The Researcher Joanne Darrant is a PhD student at Keele University. She has a background in health care evaluations and advocacy.

The Research Plan

Jo plans to interview several groups of people. This includes people over 60 who have experienced low mood or distress. She will also interview health and social care staff.

She will observe local community groups. This helps her see how people use them for support. She will also hold a workshop. This will bring together older adults and service providers. We will work together to map out a support plan. Jo would like to come and tell us more about the project.

Public Involvement

The public is helping to design this project. Jo has formed two advisory groups. The first group includes older people with lived experience in rural areas. The second group includes community partners and health professionals. Both groups will help with the research design and delivery.

For more information or to join the study, please contact Jo on 01782 735964 or j.darrant@keele.ac.uk