ADULTS & SENIORS

Adulthood presents many unique stresses and challenges that can trigger a mental health disorder. Sometimes, a disorder has been present for many years but was manageable until a particularly difficult event later in life.

Signs that indicate a mental health emergency are in red.

These signs mean that an individual is at high risk of harming him/herself or others.
They should be considered especially serious if they are new, worsening, or related to a painful event, loss, or change.

SIGNS / SYMPTOMS IN ADULTS

(THIS IS NOT A COMPREHENSIVE LIST – SEE ALSO SIGNS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN)

Inability to take care of necessary business at home – paying bills on-time, caring for children, maintaining household – if prolonged, this may be an emergency
Drinking or substance use that causes health issues or problems at work, school, or home
Inability to get to work regularly or on time
Being bullied at work
Bullying others
Repeatedly losing jobs
Lying about being employed
Irresponsibly starting or joining risky business or financial deals
Lying about finances
Unable to care for or form attachment to a newborn, excessive irritability or fatigue after childbirth, social withdrawal after childbirth, signs of PSYCHOSIS after childbirth
Inability to provide appropriate care to children
Seeking attention by making oneself ill and requiring repeated medical intervention
Seeking attention by making a child ill and requiring repeated medical intervention
Hoarding
Subscribing to extremist, hate-based, or conspiracy theories
For women from their mid-30s to mid-50s who may be in perimenopause
- Extreme anxiety
- Irritability
- Rage
- Crying spells
- Depression
- Sleep disturbances
- Fear about the many physical symptoms and personality changes some women experience
- Feeling “crazy” and/or out-of-control
- Feeling misunderstood and unsupported
- Extreme frustration over inability to get successful medical treatment
- Feeling isolated and unsupported by friends, family, and doctors who dismiss or belittle distress
Change in sex drive

SIGNS / SYMPTOMS IN SENIORS

(THIS IS NOT A COMPREHENSIVE LIST – SEE ALSO SIGNS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN)<

SUICIDE IS AN IMPORTANT CONCERN AMONG SENIORS

From The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, older adults make up 12% of the US population but account for 18% of all suicide deaths. This is an alarming statistic, as the elderly are the fastest growing segment of the population, making the issue of later-life suicide a major public health priority. Further, elder suicide may be under-reported by 40% or more. Not counted are “silent suicides,” like deaths from overdoses, self-starvation or dehydration, and “accidents.” The elderly have a high rate of completing suicide because they use firearms, hanging, and drowning. Double suicides involving spouses or partners occur most frequently among the aged. Our seniors need us to be their Mental Health First Responders! You can do this by becoming familiar with the signs and risk factors below.

Seniors Have Specific RISK FACTORS That Can Trigger Mental Health Disorders:

Retirement
Deaths of friends and family
Being divorced
Social isolation
Physical illnesses that can affect emotion, memory, and thought (eg., Alzheimers, Parkinsons)
Other long-term illness (e.g., cancer or heart disease)
Chronic pain
Physical disability
Loss of mobility
Loss of independence
Family discord

Signs:

Intense or prolonged grieving over losses of family and friends
Intense or prolonged feelings of loneliness
Poor self-care
Isolating
Excessive worrying about finances
Giving money to scammers
Substance use problems (including prescription medications)
Poor diet, malnutrition, dehydration
Breaking medical regimens (going off prescribed diets and/or medications)
Feeling hopeless and/or worthless
Putting affairs in order, giving things away, or making changes in wills
Diagnosed mental health disorders
Stock-piling medication or obtaining other lethal means
Preoccupation with death or a lack of concern about personal safety. Remarks such as “This is the last time that you’ll see me” or “I won’t be needing anymore appointments” should raise concern.
Stating the wish to die