Mental Health Profile of Elderly of Uttarakhand : Analysis across Their Educational Level and Financial Status.

The present study was undertaken to analyze the mental health of the elderly, that is, stress, anxiety, and depression across their educational qualification and financial status. 200 elderly (n=200) were randomly selected from two representative populations, that is, institutionalized elderly (n=100) drawn from the SRA (Society Registration Act) recognized old age homes of Uttarakhand and non-institutionalized elderly (n=100). Self-Structured Performa was used to assess the socio-demographic and socio-economic status of the respondents. The mental health of sampled elderly was assessed using the Anxiety, Depression, and Stress Scale (Megha Singh, and Pallavi Bhatnagar, 2016). Analysis across educational status revealed that elderly who were illiterate or educated up to primary or high school/ intermediate exhibited significantly higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in comparison to those who were educated up to graduation or above, irrespective of their being institutionalized or non-institutionalized. Perusal across financial status indicated that regardless of their residential status, elderly who had no income exhibited higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in comparison to elderly having income from any source. Thus, it is of particular relevance in terms of policy planning to identify population characteristics that influence the needfor interventions to prevent stress, anxiety, and depression in the elderly in institutional care and to schematize social and healthcare services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]