Call it 'stealth mental health' — some care for elders helps more without the label

Social worker Tanzila Uddin leads a workshop on journaling at a senior center in Queens Village in NYC. These gatherings can identify older adults who may need more mental health treatment. (Ashley Milne-Tyte for NPR)

The pandemic drew a lot of attention to young people's mental health. But older people have suffered, too. Many are struggling with loneliness, anxiety, or substance abuse.

Fewer than half of older adults who need mental health care get it, according to the National Council on Aging.