Times Chronicle & Public Spirit
MANAGING MENTAL HEALTH AS WE AGE
Seniors are among the population that is affected in the United States.
Tracy Behringer, a consultant with the Chester County Department of Mental Health/Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities, has a vantage point that gives her a view of the bigger picture facing our nation with regard to the current state of mental health.
“Overall, mental health in this country is suffering right now,” Behringer said.
She said that seniors are among the population who are affected.
Behringer, who serves as a community liaison for outreach and education for the department, emphasized that social connectedness can impact the overall wellbeing of seniors. The pandemic brought to light the negative effects of isolation on our aging population.
“A key thing is trying to find those socially connecting activities and the support they need to get that,” Behringer said. “Sometimes it’s harder for seniors to get out and do that due to mobility issues.”
Behringer said places like the
YMCA and senior centers positively benefit a person’s mental and emotional well-being through offering an opportunity for connectedness.
“The senior centers are great,” she said. “They focus on the overall well-being of the participants of their programs.”
The department offers mental health first aid training, which teaches adults how to spot red flags to help identify someone who is struggling, what to say and where you can direct them to get help. Their free training sessions are open to the community.
“These are older adults who are concerned about their family, friends and loved ones,” she said, referring to the majority of those who take the course.
Behringer said red flags include someone feeling sad or talking hopeless, which can indicate they are struggling with their overall emotional health or are suffering from anxiety or depression.
“Depression is not a natural part of aging,” Behringer said. “If someone starts behaving this way, it is not a normal part of being older and can be diagnosed
and treated.”
Behringer, who teaches the mental health first aid course, said demand for the training has increased significantly this year. Her classes, offered in-person and virtually, also serve as a preventative tool, such as a suicide prevention training she recently taught at Tel Hai retirement community in Honey Brook, in collaboration with Chester County Hospital. Tal Hai residents and employees attended the training.
“Older adults are at higher risk for suicide,” she said. “They may not have the financial stability they once had, have had a loss of loved ones and have medical conditions they are dealing with — all of this puts them at higher risk.”
She said there is heightened awareness around the topic of mental health with regard to seniors.
“Everyone is tuned into it right now,” she said, referring to those in her arena.
Jessica Jones, director of the Berks County Area Agency on Aging, discussed how more frequently her organization is com