Did you know May 11, 2023 is the 6th annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day? As a part of Mental Health Awareness month, May 11th is dedicated to shining a light on the mental health of seniors.
This often-overlooked aspect of aging is one that affects all areas of life, from mental to physical abilities. It is a key component of overall quality of life.
According to the Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization, at least one and four older adults is living with depression, dementia, anxiety, or other form of mental disorder. This number is not expected to go down. On the contrary, with the population aging, it’s expected to double by 2030. Suicide is also a significant risk factor for seniors. Of all the age groups, seniors 85 and older have the highest suicide rate.
If you are a senior yourself, are caring for a senior, or both, below are three ideas for how you can recognize this special and important day.
Three Ways You Can Honor Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day
1. Check in on how the senior in your life has been feeling emotionally and mentally.
Simply asking “How are you?” may not be enough. Often seniors are hesitant to share mental health struggles.
Checking in may require more specific questions.
These questions not only establish that you care and want to help, but they also can help a senior recognize they are experiencing a problem that they haven’t realized existed.
Some specific questions you can ask include:
- I’ve noticed you <mention a change of behavior you’ve noticed>. How have you been feeling about that?
- I know <mention something that is a general struggle, such as isolation from COVID or a recent physical illness>. Is there anything you’d like to talk about?
- If you could make changes to your life that would make life better, what would they be?
As you listen, show you are engaged by rephrasing their main points. Not only is this acknowledging their feelings, but it is also validating and reassuring. For instance, you could say:
- It sounds like you are feeling _____.
- I can certainly understand why ____ would be difficult.
- So, you feel that _____.
If after the conversation you feel concerned about their mental health, let them know that. Encourage them to share these struggles with their health practitioner or offer to make the call yourself. If you are a personal support worker, share your concerns with others who can make that call, such as a family member.
Checking in also means checking in on yourself too. Have you been feeling off lately? Less interested in activities you once found joy in? Have you been feeling physical changes in hunger or restfulness? These all can be signs you are living with a mental health disorder. Recognizing these changes is the first step to getting help you need to improve your quality of life.
2. Attend the 2023 Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium, a full day of virtual sessions that center around meeting the mental health needs of older adults.
Hosted by the National Council on Aging, this virtual seminar is designed for public health practitioners, mental health providers, professionals in the aging network, and anyone else who is invested in the mental health of a senior.
It’s It’s free to register and attend. Sessions vary throughout the day and cover a diverse range of mental health topics that especially relate to seniors.
3. Plan activities with mental health in mind.
One of the best ways to honor this important day is plan activities that boost moods, relax and reenergize, and change up the normal routine.
Academy Award-winning actress Ellen Burstyn shared her way of doing just that thorough her practice of “should-less” days.
“I have what I call should-less days. Today is a day where there’s nothing I should do. So I only do what I want to do,” she explained.
The activities you choose don’t matter as much as focusing on making it a fun and relaxing day that breaks from the normal routine is key.
However you decide to honor Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day, consider posting it on social media. As we share more about mental health, especially in regard to seniors, we destigmatize and spread awareness, two key components in improving lives of seniors.
ACES$ Online