Ageism continues to shape the health care experiences of older Australians, affecting not only how they are treated but also their mental health, confidence, and willingness to seek support. A new report from the Australian Human Rights Commission shows that age-based discrimination remains widespread and often unrecognised, with significant consequences for wellbeing.
Mental Health Coordinating Council commends the Australian Human Rights Commission for its 2025 report, The Age Barrier: Older Adults’ Experiences of Ageism in Health Care. The report draws on focus groups, interviews, and national and international research to outline older adults’ lived experiences and the cultural, systemic, and interpersonal factors that contribute to ageism. With one in six Australians now over 65, the findings make clear that ageism is deeply embedded across health systems and requires urgent attention.
How ageism impacts mental health and wellbeing
There is a strong link between ageism and mental health, and its impact goes well beyond physical health care. The report shows that when older adults experience ageist attitudes, their mental health often suffers. This can lead to increased anxiety and depression, and even a shorter life expectancy. The World Health Organisation estimates that millions of depression cases globally are linked to ageism.
In Australia, many older adults said they felt dismissed, invisible, or left out of decisions about their care. These experiences undermine dignity and independence, and can cause emotional distress. Over time, they may also lead people to withdraw from health services altogether.
Challenging the idea that distress is ‘normal’ in ageing
A recurring theme in the report was the attribution of mental health symptoms to ageing rather than recognising treatable conditions. For example, depression and suicidal ideation in older adults are often misinterpreted as “normal” aspects of ageing, resulting in underdiagnosis and inadequate treatment. This therapeutic nihilism – where interventions are deemed futile because of age – reinforces stereotypes and denies older people access to appropriate mental health support.
Behavioral and health implications for older adults
The report highlights how repeated exposure to ageist attitudes can lead to internalised ageism, in which older individuals come to adopt negative stereotypes about ageing. This self-directed bias, in turn, influences their behaviour and health decisions. This can include avoiding mental health care or accepting poor treatment as inevitable. Participants described feelings of frustration, diminished self-worth, and fear of seeking help, sometimes choosing not to call an ambulance or skipping appointments due to the fear of being dismissed.
Systemic and structural drivers
Systemic factors further compound these issues. Limited geriatric and mental health training among health professionals, time pressures, and funding models that disincentivise longer consultations all contribute to rushed, depersonalised interactions. Intersectional disadvantages – including gender, cultural background, and sexuality – increase an older person’s vulnerability to ageism and its mental health impacts.
Moving towards age-inclusive health systems
The Australian Human Rights Commission’s report advocates for person-centred care, age-awareness training, and structural reforms to dismantle ageist practices. Addressing ageism is not only a matter of equity; it is essential to safeguarding older adults’ mental health and wellbeing.
These priorities align with Mental Health Coordinating Council’s recent submission to the Law Reform Commission’s Review of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1997, which emphasised the need to address the intersectionality of lived experience in relation to ageism.
Mental Health Coordinating Council calls for action from policy makers and service providers to integrate age-inclusive practice across all health and mental health systems. The 2019–2024 LGA Profiles offer local insights to support this targeted action.
Visit the Australian Human Rights Commission’s website to read the full or summary report.
