Older Americans in Crisis: Mental Health Awareness Can Help Save a Life
Mental health is a vital part of everyone’s overall wellness. When life gets difficult, what do you do to combat feelings of depression or anxiety?
Depression is so much more than a fleeting case of the blues. It’s impact on one’s physical and mental state can be debilitating. Sadly, it’s also linked with suicide — the eighth leading cause of death for older Americans age 55-64 and the 17th for those age 65 and older.
Sunday, September 4th marks the beginning of National Suicide Prevention Week. It’s a time to deepen the conversation and learn more about what leads someone to suicide and the ways we can help to prevent it.
The connection between depression and aging
While older populations are more prone to depression, that doesn’t mean it’s a normal part of aging. Factors that can impact mental health as you age include:
- Health challenges associated with growing older
- A reduced sense of purpose after leaving the workforce
- The loss of a spouse, friends or loved ones
- Loneliness and isolation, which for many, may have been exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic
The CDC reports that depression affects up to 5% of the general older population, 13.5% of those requiring home healthcare and 11.5% of older hospitalized patients.
Mental health warning signs
Depression in older adults can be challenging to diagnose. Symptoms may be brushed off as normal age-related issues, blamed on medication side-effects or simply regarded as a natural reaction to life changes. Affected individuals may not realize they’re battling a true and treatable medical condition.
According to the CDC, depression may manifest as:
- Sadness or anxiety that lasts for weeks at a time
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and/or helplessness
- Loss of interest in activities or hobbies that were once enjoyable
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions
- Fatigue or decreased energy
- Overeating or appetite loss
- Thoughts of suicide or suicidal behaviors
If you or anyone you know exhibits signs of depression or suicidal thoughts, speak up and speak out. Seek immediate assistance. Contact a friend, loved one or a doctor, or call the call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988.
Ensuring our senior neighbors never feel alone
At Reverse Mortgage Funding, LLC (RMF), we’re proud of our partnership with Meals on Wheels America, supporting our nation’s most vulnerable aging population. Our local loan specialists are active community leaders and volunteers who strive to maintain long-term relationships. Meals on Wheels provides seniors across the country with nutritious meals, human connections and most of all, a sense of community. See how a knock on the door delivers food, compassion and care that our aging neighbors need.
Call RMF today at (888) 277-1567 to learn more about our company and our commitment to helping older Americans live a better retirement. We look forward to speaking with you!
This content is sponsored by RMF, one of the nation’s leading reverse mortgage lenders. We are dedicated to helping older Americans retire more freely, in the comfort of their own homes. As a result of our commitment to providing an extraordinary and positive customer experience, we have earned a 98% customer satisfaction rating; a 4.5-star / Excellent score on Trustpilot; 4.8 out of 5 stars on LendingTree; and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Call 888-277-1567 to speak with a licensed reverse mortgage specialist to learn about our retirement financing products and solutions.