In our society, there’s pressure to be happy. Indeed, there’s an expectation of it. And to a great degree, this is understandable: generally speaking, as Americans, we have so much, materially speaking, particularly compared to places like developing countries. And yet according to statistics, many Americans are depressed. In fact, depression affects over 18 million adults (one in ten) in any given year in the United States, and it is the primary reason why someone dies of suicide about every 12 minutes; that means over 41,000 people a year, according to the Hope For Depression Research Foundation.
During this September, National Suicide Prevention month, we want to raise awareness around this devastating issue and its underlying cause, depression, particularly for older adults. Some people erroneously think that by the time you’ve reached senior citizen age, 65, you’re safe from depression. But that’s not completely true. Meaning, while the majority of U.S. adults are not clinically depressed, there are still too many who are. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), estimates for major depression in older adults in the U.S. can be broken down as follows:
- 1% – 5% for older adults living in the general community
- 11.5% for older adults who are hospitalized
- 13.5% for older adults who require home health care
As you can see from the rate of older adults who have been hospitalized and are depressed, and the rate of older adults who require home health care and are depressed, seniors face unique issues that impact their mental health. According to the National Council on Ageing, these specific issues include:
- Chronic conditions(about 80% of older adults have at least one chronic health condition, per the CDC)
- Decreased functional ability
- Reduced mobility
- Chronic pain
- Financial issues related to retirement
- Elder abuse
- Caregiver stress
- Lack of physical activity
- Loneliness
Another unique issue that many seniors face is their perceived loss of a sense of purpose. This is particularly true in a society like the United States where youth, beauty, independence and working hard are lauded. This kind of loss can be especially challenging if a senior doesn’t have a strong social network of friends and family. Often seniors end up living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities which for some can be isolating. Combine this with the unique health issues seniors face, and it is no great shock that many seniors end up feeling hopeless. The danger of this is that over time, an extended sense of hopelessness may ultimately cause some people to want to die by suicide.
As a society, what can we do to help prevent this from happening to our loved ones? A major way is to be aware of warning signs, which according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and other experts may include your loved one exhibiting the following behavior:
- Withdrawal from friends, family and community
- Dramatic mood swings
- Impulsive or reckless behavior, even aggressive
- Collecting and saving pills or buying a weapon
- Increased use of alcohol or drugs
- Giving away possessions
- Tying up loose ends, like organizing personal papers or paying off debts
- Saying goodbye to friends and family
- Great guilt or shame
- Being a burden to others
- Eating or sleeping more or less
If these warning signs apply to someone you know, please encourage them to get help from a mental health professional as soon as possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently; if they need someone to make the phone call, please do so or find someone who will. And for immediate help, call or text 988 from anywhere in the United States; it is a national suicide prevention helpline.
And please know that there is hope – because there are steps seniors, and anyone with depression, can take to prevent their mental health from deteriorating any further. These steps may include talk therapy and/or medication. But again, seek out a mental health professional to help guide your loved one (or you, as the case may be) because depression is very much a disease of loneliness, whether a person is genuinely isolated or just perceives they are, so getting help from others is key.
When in doubt, please call the Suicide Prevention Hotline – Call 988!
This information is for educational purposes. Please consult your physician for any medical issues. The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) is committed to bringing trusted and quality home health, private care and hospice to Indian River County patients. For more information about VNA services, call 772-567-5551 or visit www.vnatc.com.
