Depression, Help for Mental Illnesses and Older Adults

Depression is not just an illness that affects younger people and although it is not something that is acknowledged as much within the older community, it can have very negative effects on individuals health. Depression in individuals with chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and stroke can cause their physical health to rapidly decline (NIMH, 2018). It can also interfere with the treatment of illnesses which is why it is so important that illness within the older community be acknowledged and more widely accepted. The best thing that individuals can do for an elderly individual suffering from depression is to recognize the warning signs and get the individual to a health practitioner for treatment (NIMH, 2018). The warning signs for depression within the elderly community are as follows; noticeable changes in mood, energy level, or appetite, feeling flat or having trouble feeling positive emotions, difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much, difficulty concentrating, feeling restless, or on edge, increased worry or feeling stressed, anger, irritability or aggressiveness, ongoing headaches, digestive issues, or pain, a need for alcohol or drugs, sadness or hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, feeling flat or having trouble feeling positive emotions, engaging in high-risk activities, obsessive thinking or compulsive behavior, thoughts or behaviors that interfere with work, family, or social life and or unusual thinking or behaviors that concern other people (NIMH, 2018).

It is important that if someone you know is struggling with mental illness and you have concerns about their safety that you reach out for help. There are many resources available for individuals suffering with mental illness. If the individual you know is in immediate danger or is an immediate threat to others it is important that you call 911. However, if they are not and are in need of help there are other resources available. There are several hotlines that are free to the public and provide crisis intervention and counseling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, they are as follows; the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Crisis Text Line, Veterans Crisis Line, Disaster Distress Helpline and Social Media outlets (NIMH, 2020). Treatment for individuals with mental illness usually consists of therapy, medication or a combination of both (NIMH, 2020). Federal agencies offer resources for identifying health care providers and help in finding low-cost health services, these include; Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), The National Library of Medicine (NLM) MedlinePlus and Mental Health and Addiction Insurance Help (NIMH, 2020). According to NIMH the 5 steps to help someone in emotional pain are as follows;

1.       Ask - “Are you thinking of killing yourself?”

2.       Keep them safe - Reducing their access to lethal items or places.

3.       Be there - Listen carefully to what they are thinking or feeling.

4.       Help them connect - Save the crisis hotline numbers so that they are there if you need them.

5.       Stay connected - Staying in touch after a crisis or after being discharged from care can make a difference.

Depression is a topic that a lot of people know a little bit about. It is a taboo topic of discussion that many avoid but is mental illness that is very prevalent and needs addressing. Depression is a very common and very serious mood disorder that can affect the way an individual thinks, feels and handles day to day activities. An individual's risk or susceptibility to depression is caused by a combination of personal/family history, major life changes, such as stress or trauma and certain physical illnesses (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2018). In order for an individual to be diagnosed with depression they have to experience multiple of the following symptoms for 2 or more weeks in conjunction with a persistent low mood (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2018);

·       Feeling sad, anxious or empty.

·       Experiencing hopelessness or pessimism.

·       Irritability.

·       Experiencing guilt, worthlessness or helplessness.

·       Loss of interest in pleasure and hobbies.

·       Decreased energy and or fatigue.

·       Moving or talking slower.

·       Restlessness.

·       Trouble concentrating, remembering or decision making.

·       Difficulty sleeping, waking late or oversleeping.

·       Loss of appetite or weight changes.

·       Aches, pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems without physical cause.

Depression comes in different forms and not everyone will experience the same symptoms. Some individuals may find themselves experiencing many symptoms at once, others may just experience a few. There are also different depression diagnoses that an individual can receive. The first is persistent depressive disorder, this is a depressed mood that lasts for 2 or more years and sees individuals experience major depressive episodes and also periods of less severe symptoms (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2018). Psychotic depression is also a diagnosis an individual may receive, this is usually severe depression that coincides with some form of psychosis such as delusions or hallucinations (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2018). Another depressive disorder is seasonal depression. Like its name suggests this form of depression affects individuals by seasons, depressive moods and symptoms show themselves around the winter months and seem to lessen in the summer and spring months (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2018).

Citations

NIMH. (2020). 5 Action Steps for Helping Someone in Emotional Pain. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/5-action-steps-for-helping-someone-in-emotional-pain/index.shtml.

NIMH. (2018). Depression. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml.

NIMH. (2018). Older Adults and Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/older-adults-and-mental-health/index.shtml.