This needs assessment study of mental health needs of the elderly in Pennsylvania used a three-part approach. These parts were a review of existing data sources, an extensive key informant study, and a review of service delivery models. A recent study found a prevalence rate for mental illness in the elderly of 12.8%, more than 5% lower than the rate for the general population. This study also found that the elderly made fewer mental health visits to professionals than did younger adults. In a key informant survey, mental health and elderly services administrators were interviewed. Results of this survey showed the following: (1) loneliness, social isolation, and physical ailments were the most common risk factors for mental illness; (2) depression was the most common mental health problem; (3) the most important barriers to mental health services were stigma and the idea that problems were not mental health problems; (4) medical care and advice were the most common types of help received by needy elderly; and (5) refusal or resistance to receiving mental health services was the most important reason for keeping elderly in need from receiving service. Demonstration mental health service programs perceived lack of coordination between service providers and transportation as less important barriers to receiving mental health services than did non-demonstration mental health services providers. (ABL)