Untreated Mental Health ProblemsUntreated mental health problems can reduce the quality of life and make it more difficult, and more costly, to treat physical symptoms. Untreated depression can also lead to suicide. Suicide is the ninth leading cause of death among all persons in the United States and is very common among older adults. Older adults (age 65+) represent 13 percent of the U.S. population, yet account for nearly one fifth of U.S. suicides. The most frequent methods of suicide among older adults include the use of firearms by men and poisoning by women. Most older adults with mental health problems respond best to a combination of drug therapy and counseling. Staying ConnectedKeeping up with friendships and social connections — and making new ones — is key to beating the isolation and loneliness that can lead to later-life depression. Volunteering is another way to bring people into your life. Older women who volunteer or participate in community organizations enjoy much higher levels of mental and physical well being than those who don't. Helping others also boosts self-esteem. Older women have long felt that volunteering helps them:
Staying active is also a booster for physical and mental health. Keeping Your Mind SharpJust as physical activity keeps your body strong, mental activity keeps your mind sharp. One way to do this is to keep challenging yourself by learning new skills. If you do this, your brain will keep growing. These activities can help keep your mind sharp:
Living AloneAlthough staying connected and active can protect against depression, many older women must live through the deaths of a spouse, partner, child, friend, and other loved ones. Suffering through many losses can put women at greater risk for grief and depression. For women grieving the loss of a loved one, grief counseling can help them to move through the stages of grief at their own pace. Through counseling, women are able to talk about their loved ones and the death as much as needed and are able to regain a meaningful and joyful life. More ResourcesCurrent as of September 2007 |
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