A South Yorkshire pensioner, who struggled with feeling nervous and worried when travelling on public transport or making phone calls, is speaking out about her experience of anxiety this Mental Health Awareness Week (11 May 2026 to 17 May 2026).
Seventy-four-year-old Eileen hopes to inspire other older adults to recognise when they might need some support, and to take action if they’re struggling.
Eileen accessed Doncaster Talking Therapies, after weeks of feeling low and experiencing physical health symptoms, too. She said:
“My mood was swinging to and fro, and I had various health issues which I had seen my GP about.
“I hadn’t recognised that my problems, both mental and physical, were actually linked to anxiety.
“I would feel panicked about using the telephone, particularly when calling the doctors surgery. I would feel agitated and clammy. I also felt very anxious when travelling. I had lost my dear friend and had very little family left as a resource to talk with.
“I spoke to my GP and after seeing her for different issues like stomach upsets and a mountain of other problems for a while, I was asked whether I would like to access talking therapy.”
Despite the idea of therapy feeling daunting to Eileen at first, she said she felt at ease as soon as she met her clinician, Jaden Piggott. Eileen said:
“I was a little bit lost for words when I started my sessions, but Jaden guided me through. I knew it was all confidential, and I felt listened to, I felt heard.
“I still use the techniques I learned today. Jaden also encouraged me to get in touch with my local community centre, to see what activities were going on there. I now go along to reading groups where I have made new friends. Overall, I now feel more confident and less anxious. Even my GP has mentioned that I am looking better and more relaxed, and I am!”
The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is “take action”, which Eileen is urging other older adults to do, if they are also experiencing symptoms of common mental health struggles. Symptoms can include low mood, worry, nervousness, a person no longer doing things they used to enjoy, or feeling tearful.
Figures from Age UK estimate that 22% of men and 28% of women over the age of 65 struggle with depression, yet older adults make up only a small fraction of Talking Therapies patients.
Eileen said:
“You might think ‘there are people who are worse than I am’ or be put off by thinking that you are older than most people. That really is not the case. Your therapist may be a lot younger than you, too, but they are very helpful, very direct and really supportive.”
Eileen’s therapist, Jaden, who is a senior psychological wellbeing practitioner for Doncaster Talking Therapies, said:
“There are a lot of myths around ageing and mental health. Struggling with low mood or worry is not an inevitable part of getting older, and if you are experiencing these, help is available with Talking Therapies.
“We can support people who have lost pleasure or have little interest in doing things they have always enjoyed, or those who may find their usual ways of managing no longer work as well. We can also help if someone is feeling fed up or overwhelmed due to a long-term physical health condition.
“We often hear older adults say they are too old for support, or that they don’t want to be a burden, or waste NHS time. That is absolutely not the case! Our team is here to help – plus, Talking Therapies figures show that adults aged 65 and over tend to have greater recovery rates than younger patients.
“It is really easy to get support. You don’t have to visit your GP first. You can just give us a call or fill in an online form.”
Our Talking Therapies service are also encouraging the community to take action this Mental Health Awareness Week. Selina Khunkhuna, Clinical Lead for Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) Talking Therapies, said:
“If you are concerned that a loved one, friend, work colleague or neighbour might be struggling, start a conversation with them. It can be as simple as saying hello and asking how they are.
“Many people may worry about saying the wrong thing, but showing kindness, listening without judgement, and letting them know about Talking Therapies can really help.”
Talking Therapies, and Talking Therapies for long-term conditions, provide free, effective, confidential treatment for people over the age of 16, who are struggling with common signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety, such as low mood, feeling tearful or sad, worrying frequently or no longer doing things they used to enjoy.
The service, which also offers optional employment support to patients who are accessing treatment, can be accessed face-to-face at venues across Doncaster, Rotherham and North Lincolnshire or over the telephone, video call, or text messaging.
Residents can sign up for support themselves by completing an online self-referral form or by calling 03000 211 556.
Published: May 11, 2026
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