Breaking the silence on late-life depression: uncovering the drivers of help-seeking in Türkiye’s ageing population

Background: Due to the prevalence of physical health issues among older adults, depression remains a significant health concern, which is often overlooked. Understanding the factors influencing the likelihood of seeking psychological support plays an important role in effectively managing depression in later life, where psychological support has a crucial role. This study aims to examine the factors associated with the likelihood of receiving psychological support among individuals aged 60 years and older experiencing depression in Türkiye. Methods: This study used microdata from the Türkiye Health Surveys conducted by Turkish Statistical Institute in 2016, 2019, and 2022. Gompit, binary logistic regression, and CHAID analyses were used to identify variables associated with psychological support-seeking behavior among older adults with depression. Results: The analysis revealed that general health status, illness status, gender, education level, and difficulty in healthcare payment significantly influenced the likelihood of receiving psychological support among older adults with depression. Conclusion: The results achieved in this study indicate that among older adults experiencing depression, women, those with higher educational levels, and those with existing illnesses are more likely to seek psychological support. Based on these results, it is recommended to develop educational programs to raise societal awareness about the importance of psychological support and to inform health policies accordingly.