Wilderness Therapy as a Treatment for Anxiety in Older Adults

Agenda

Primary causes of depression and anxiety in older adults?

Barriers & Feasibility

Wilderness Therapy

as a Treatment for

Depression/Anxiety

Among Older Adults

Benefits of Wilderness Therapy on Depression/Anxiety

• Spritual

• Psychological

• Social

• Biological

Physical activation

Group benefits

Meaning making

Enhanced mood

Depression/Anxiety among Older Adults

How is it used

today?

What is Wilderness Therapy?

• Primary mental health problems for older

women - secondary for men (behind

substance abuse)

Jessica Lister

April 10, 2012

How is it used today?

Psychoeducation/Support group

• Often goes untreated amongst

older adults

Benefits of WT on late-life depression/anxiety? Risks?

• Connects people to a group of individuals who are also pursuing a healthy and positive lifestyle

• Many older adults who suffer

from these issues have struggled with symptoms for much of their lives.

• Help understand the causes of depression/anxiety, and how these wilderness activities can be beneficial

• Primary causes - stressors that sometimes come with aging, such as poor health, memory problems, losses, common fears about aging, being dependent on others, etc.

How is it used today?

Risks of Wilderness Therapy for Older Adults

How is it used today?

• Injury, both physical and mental (could cause additional anxiety or depression)

• Behavior modification/

activation for children and adolescents, young adults

Survival skills

Barriers and Feasibility

• Some older adults may require routine medical attention/may risk daily health concerns

Conclusion

• ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, addiction, depression

• Wilderness Therapy may be an effective treatment option for older adults who suffer from depression and/or anxiety.

• May be highly unfeasible for city-dwelling older adults

• Benefits for these demographics: team-building, assertiveness, self-reliance, self-evaluation, etc.

• Return to our essence

and escape the distractions

of day-to-day society

• Builds confidence in ability to navigate obstacles

Introduction

• Like most interventions, it should be modified to suit the needs of older adults.

?

• Expensive

• Struggle with comparison to "boot camps"

What is Wilderness Therapy?

• Could also be used as a preventative treatment model

• Intimidating for frail elders, or those who are physically unable to participate

• The high cost combined with a narrow subset of older adults who would be willing and able to participate may elicit cost/benefit considerations

• Depression/anxiety may hinder motivation in an otherwise willing participant

Benefits, cont'd

How is it used today?

Final Thoughts

How could WT be modified so that it is most beneficial to late-life depression/anxiety?

Team Building

• Short in length (a few

days vs. a few weeks)

"Wilderness is not a luxury, but a necessity to the human spirit."

• Slower pace, less

intensive

This?

-Edward Abbey, Environmentalist

• A progressive system,

rather than beginning

with an expedition

• Include a medical prof-

essional on expedition

• Include family members as part of team

• Promotes cooperation, patience, leadership, problem-solving, etc.

• Encourages team members to ask for help in times of need

Thank you!

Introduction

What is Wilderness Therapy?

• 3 general types

(viewing, presence, and participation)

• Active participation or involvement in nature - The use of professionally led wilderness expeditions as a therapeutic intervention

Questions?

(primary focus)

• Group oriented

“An individual’s harmony with his or her ‘own deep self’ requires not merely a journey to the interior but a harmonizing with the environmental world.”—James Hillman

• Generally includes a

challenging series of tasks

that promote increased

confidence

Photo based on: 'horizon' by pierreyves @ flickr