by ASA Staff

The numbers are staggering: according to the Centers for Disease Control, 20 percent of those 55 years or older experience some sort of mental health issue, whether it be anxiety, severe cognitive impairment or mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder. Older men have the highest rates of suicide of any age group at 45.23 per 100,000 compared with 11.01 per 100,000 for the overall population, and mental health issues are often implicated as a factor.

And a recent Institute of Medicine report shows similar statistics—one in five older adults in the United States have a mental health or substance use problem. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) this month is making a push for elders in need to seek treatment and others to support people in recovery with its Recovery Month initiative.

Recovery Month has been going on for 23 years, and highlights those who are living happy and healthy lives in long-term recovery, and honors the prevention, treatment and recovery service providers who make recovery possible.

Below are 10 tips for caregivers to recognize mental health issues in elders, for elders seeking help and links to SAMHSA’s many resources:

1. Watch for these common signs of mental health problems: social withdrawal, inability to cope with daily problems and activities, excessive fear, worries and anxieties, dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits, confused thinking or prolonged depression.
2. Watch for these physical signs of substance use disorders: sudden weight loss or gain, slurred speech and changes in appetite and sleeping patters; behavioral signs such as unexplained financial problems, sudden change in friends and declining performance at work; and psychological changes such as sudden mood swings, lack of motivation, and feelings of fear, anxiety and paranoia.
3. Offer support to someone with a behavioral health condition by asking how he or she is managing or what you can do to help; offering help with errands or everyday tasks; reassuring him or her that you care; or joining them at a support group meeting.
4. Help your loved one understand that there is no weakness is seeking treatment for a behavioral health condition—no matter what age.
5. Call SAMHSA’s Helpline for 24/7, confidential treatment referral at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or use SAMHSA’s online treatment locator to find a treatment facility near you.
6. Encourage caregivers to visit Family Care Navigator to find a support group to help alleviate the emotional stress of caring for a loved one with a mental or substance use disorder.
7. Create a low-stress environment that can help older adults with a mental health condition by making a schedule for meals, medication, exercise and sleep.
8. Discover how others overcame a mental or substance use disorder to sustain long-term recovery at Recovery Month’s “Voices for Recovery”.
9. Support loved ones during challenging times such as retirement, death of loved ones, increased isolation and medical problems—these significant life changes can trigger or worsen behavioral health conditions.
10. Send a recovery e-card to support and encourage friend or family member on their recovery.