Authors:

Cole Benventano

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Not specified

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About Paper:

Older Adults Older adults face unique mental health challenges at an increased rate compared to their younger counterparts. Despite these difficulties, this population is less likely than any other age group to seek mental health services. The present study examines demographic, behavioral, and healthcare access factors associated with mental health treatment seeking among older adults. Data was drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2002 to 2019, and included 2,512 adults aged 65 and older who reported mental health difficulties over the past year. Results from a chi-square analysis found that treatment seeking differed significantly by sex and mental health insurance status, with women and individuals with mental health coverage seeking treatment more often than men and those without mental health coverage. These findings highlight gaps in access to mental health care among older adults, particularly suggesting a targeted effort in improving mental health service utilization among older men and individuals without mental health coverage. 93 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON • 2026 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM TABLE OF CONTENTS

Source:

University of Oregon / 2026

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No topics listed

Co-authors:

Cole Benventano