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The State of Mental Health and Aging

By CATHY THOMAS BROWNFIELD

Family Recovery Center publicist

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) released a report about The State of Mental Health and Aging. The report states that depression and anxiety affect the older population. Risk factors for late-onset depression include:

– Widowhood

– Physical illness

– Less than a high school education

– Impaired functions

– Heavy alcohol consumption

Colleen closed the document on her computer and stared at the text message on her mobile phone. A cousin had attempted suicide. Physically, Dolly was fine, but in other ways she was not. Lonely and seemingly forgotten by her children and grandchildren, she had felt as if she had no reason to live. Colleen didn’t know about Dolly’s problems. They had lived on opposite sides of the country for decades.

Then there was Uncle Eddie. He had gotten in way over his head gambling. He said he was so lonely after Aunt Nettie died he had just wanted to fill some of those long hours. But it had gotten out of hand. He went to his brother-in-law and asked for help to pay off the debt. Randy refused. Anxiety had killed Uncle Eddie. Well, it hadn’t killed him but it likely caused the stroke that did.

Awareness arrived in the form of an epiphany as she considered her family’s history. The report said that culture, health, physical condition and all the things that cause mental distress (like working and also maintaining a home, eating healthy who had time? being involved in relationships) weigh on a person. No matter how hard someone tries to do as much as they possibly can (and don’t realize how much they really do or have done), that person may feel very dissatisfied with what they have done with their life, that they haven’t done nearly enough.

Stress grows when you feel like no one listens to you or offers wisdom to help you or just be the sounding board you need to be able to find your perspectives. Overwhelmed by everything, you may feel like there is no use in trying. You become crippled in your thinking. And if you are 65 or older, you are more apt to complain about physical discomfort than any questions you have about the state of your mental health.

Depression is often un- or misdiagnosed because as people get older, health issues may mask the depression. Most of those who become depressed can be treated and put depression behind them as they live their lives. It’s important to know that depression is not a normal condition of aging.

Life is out there. Reach out and grab onto it. Make it your own.

This is Mental Health Awareness Month. The Agency on Aging and SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) along with a network of other agencies, work together to assure good mental health for all.

Family Recovery Center promotes the well being of individuals, families and communities with education, prevention and treatment programs for substance abuse and related mental health behaviors. For more information about these programs, contact FRC at 964 N. Market St., Lisbon; phone, 330-424-1468; or e-mail, info@familyrecovery.org. Follow Family Recovery Center at Facebook.

The State of Mental Health and Aging

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) released a report about The State of Mental Health and Aging. The report states that depression and anxiety affect the older population. Risk factors for late-onset depression include:

– Widowhood

– Physical illness

– Less than a high school education

– Impaired functions

– Heavy alcohol consumption

Colleen closed the document on her computer and stared at the text message on her mobile phone. A cousin had attempted suicide. Physically, Dolly was fine, but in other ways she was not. Lonely and seemingly forgotten by her children and grandchildren, she had felt as if she had no reason to live. Colleen didn’t know about Dolly’s problems. They had lived on opposite sides of the country for decades.

Then there was Uncle Eddie. He had gotten in way over his head gambling. He said he was so lonely after Aunt Nettie died he had just wanted to fill some of those long hours. But it had gotten out of hand. He went to his brother-in-law and asked for help to pay off the debt. Randy refused. Anxiety had killed Uncle Eddie. Well, it hadn’t killed him but it likely caused the stroke that did.

Awareness arrived in the form of an epiphany as she considered her family’s history. The report said that culture, health, physical condition and all the things that cause mental distress (like working and also maintaining a home, eating healthy who had time? being involved in relationships) weigh on a person. No matter how hard someone tries to do as much as they possibly can (and don’t realize how much they really do or have done), that person may feel very dissatisfied with what they have done with their life, that they haven’t done nearly enough.

Stress grows when you feel like no one listens to you or offers wisdom to help you or just be the sounding board you need to be able to find your perspectives. Overwhelmed by everything, you may feel like there is no use in trying. You become crippled in your thinking. And if you are 65 or older, you are more apt to complain about physical discomfort than any questions you have about the state of your mental health.

Depression is often un- or misdiagnosed because as people get older, health issues may mask the depression. Most of those who become depressed can be treated and put depression behind them as they live their lives. It’s important to know that depression is not a normal condition of aging.

Life is out there. Reach out and grab onto it. Make it your own.

This is Mental Health Awareness Month. The Agency on Aging and SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) along with a network of other agencies, work together to assure good mental health for all.

Family Recovery Center promotes the well being of individuals, families and communities with education, prevention and treatment programs for substance abuse and related mental health behaviors. For more information about these programs, contact FRC at 964 N. Market St., Lisbon; phone, 330-424-1468; or e-mail, info@familyrecovery.org. Follow Family Recovery Center at Facebook.

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