Depression in Older Adults

Depression affects more than 19 million Americans every year, regardless of age, race, or gender. While depression is not a normal part of the aging process, there is a strong likelihood of it occurring when other physical health conditions are present. For example, nearly a quarter of the 600,000 people who experience a stroke in a given year will experience clinical depression. 1 Unfortunately, symptoms of depression are often overlooked and untreated when they coincide with other medical illnesses or life events that commonly occur as people age (e.g., loss of loved ones). However, clinical depression is never a “normal” response; it is a serious medical illness that should be treated at any age.
Prevalence
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More than two million of the 34 million Americans age 65 and older suffer from some form of depression. 2
Co-occurring Illnesses
- Symptoms of clinical depression can be triggered by other chronic illnesses common in later life, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, cancer and arthritis. 3
Widowhood
- One-third of widows/widowers meet criteria for depression in the first month after the death of their spouse, and half of these individuals remain clinically depressed after one year. 4
Healthcare Costs
- Older patients with symptoms of depression have roughly 50% higher healthcare costs than non-depressed seniors. 5
Suicide
- Depression is a significant predictor of suicide in elderly Americans. 2
- Comprising only 13% of the U.S. population, individuals aged 65 and older account for 20% of all suicide deaths, with white males being particularly vulnerable. 2
- Suicide among white males aged 85 and older (65.3 deaths per 100,000 persons) is nearly six times the suicide rate (10.8 per 100,000) in the U.S. 2
Treatment
- More than 55% of older persons treated for mental health services received care from primary care physicians. Less than 3% aged 65 and older received treatment from mental health professionals. 6
- Primary care physicians accurately recognize less than one half of patients with depression, resulting in potentially decreased function and increased length of hospitalization. 7
Fortunately, clinical depression is a very treatable illness. More than 80% of all people with depression can be successfully treated with medication, psychotherapy or a combination of both. 8
Older Adult Attitudes Toward Depression
According to a Mental Health America survey 9 on attitudes and beliefs about clinical depression:
- Approximately 68% of adults aged 65 and over know little or almost nothing about depression.
- Only 38% of adults aged 65 and over believe that depression is a “health” problem.
- If suffering from depression, older adults are more likely than any other group to “handle it themselves.” Only 42% would seek help from a health professional.
- Signs of depression are mentioned more frequently by people under age 64 than people aged 65 and over. These include “a change in eating habits” (29% vs. 15%), “a change in sleeping habits” (33% vs. 16%) and “sadness” (28% vs. 15%).
- About 58% of people aged 65 and older believe that it is “normal” for people to get depressed as they grow older.
References
1. National Institute of Mental Health: “Co-occurrence of Depression With Stroke Fact Sheet.”
2. National Institute of Mental Health: “Older Adults: Depression and Suicide Fact Sheet.”
3. National Institute of Mental Health: “Depression Shares Symptoms With Other Medical Conditions.”
4. National Institute of Mental Health. “The Many Dimensions of Depression in Women: Women at Risk,”
5. Unutzer, J., “Depressive symptoms and the cost of health services in HMO patients aged 65 years and older,” JAMA 277;20 (1997).
6. Olfson, M., Pincus, H.A., “Outpatient mental health care in nonhospital settings: distribution of patients across provider groups,” American Journal of Psychiatry 153 (1996):1353-1356.
7. Sadovsky, R., “Prevalence and recognition of depression in elderly patients,” American Academy of Family Physicians, 57;5 (1998):1096.
8. National Institute of Mental Health: “Depression: Treat it. Defeat it.”
9. National Mental Health Association, “American Attitudes about Clinical Depression and its Treatment,” (March 27, 1996).
Our Blogs
Support Groups for Depression
Last Modified On: 11-09-2020 7:57 pm
BRIDGES is a peer-to-peer support group led by a trained facilitator, designed to serve adults who have a mental health diagnosis. Although some participants might have substance use issues as well, this support group is not solely focused on substance use.
AT THIS TIME, due to COVID, all groups meet virtually via Zoom; no Zoom account needed to join the meeting. Persons who are interested in participating should send an email (see address below) to request an invitation link. If you have general questions before requesting an invitation link, call the number listed below and leave a message for Ramona Taylor, the BRIDGES Director. MHA is working remotely, so please allow a day or two for your call to be returned.
No charge to participate.
Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri
1905 S. Grand Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63104
Contact Information:
Ramona Taylor
314-773-1399
bridges@mha-em.org
Meeting Details
Virtual Meetings schedule
Mondays, 6:30 - 8:30
Thursdays, 6:30 - 8:30
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Last Modified On: 12-02-2018 6:24 pm
This group provides support for family and friends of individuals with mental illness.
St. Joseph's Hospital/Breese
9515 Holy Cross Lane
Breese, IL 62230
Contact Information:
618-882-3306
sharon206@prodigy.net
Meeting Details
Meets: 2nd and 4th Mondays, 7:00 p.m.
Location: Breese-Mater Dei Library, 900 Mater Dei Drive, Breese, IL 62230
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Last Modified On: 12-02-2018 5:55 pm
City Hope Bible Church
5868 West Florissant Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63120
Contact Information:
Phyllis
314-385-9129
314-383-7771 church
Meeting Details
Call for more information, if needed.
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Last Modified On: 12-13-2019 6:14 pm
Depression Bipolar Support Alliance
907 Dock St
St Louis, MO 63147
Contact Information:
Helen or Sarah
314-652-6100
866-525-1442 Friendship Line
hminth@sbcglobal.net
Meeting Details
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Last Modified On: 12-02-2018 6:02 pm
Emotions Anonymous International Headquarters
P.O. Box 4245
St. Paul, MN 55104
Contact Information:
651-647-9712
Meeting Details
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Last Modified On: 12-02-2018 6:26 pm
Karla Smith Foundation
14 Park Place Suite B
Belleville, IL 62226
Contact Information:
618-624-5771
Meeting Details
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Last Modified On: 02-24-2020 8:42 pm
NAMI St. Louis
1810 Craig Road #124
St. Louis, MO 63146
Contact Information:
HELP Line
314-962-4670
800-950-NAMI
info@namistl.org
Meeting Details
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Last Modified On: 12-02-2018 6:43 pm
A Christian support group committed to ministering to the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Within an atmosphere of acceptance, compassion, and empathy we offer relevant information, and trustworthy resources related to issues commonly associated with and experienced by those who have a loved one affected by a neurological disorder or a chemical imbalance. We provide a place to share one’s faith in God and one’s personal experiences as we walk a similar path alongside a family member, friend, or loved one living with a serious mental illness.
Central Presbyterian Church
7700 Davis Drive
St. Louis, MO 63105
Contact Information:
Pat Grace
grace1pat@sbcglobal.net
Meeting Details
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Last Modified On: 12-13-2019 6:18 pm
Recovery, International
Contact Information:
312-337-5661
866-221-0302
Meeting Details
Email Chuck at johnbeerg13@gmail.com for info about group meetings in St. Louis, Union and Ste. Genevieve, MO.
Visit recoveryinternational.org/meetings/find-a-meeting to locate groups and coordinators anywhere in the country.
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Last Modified On: 01-16-2020 4:57 pm
CenterPointe Hospital
4801 Weldon Spring Pkwy
St Charles, MO 63304
Contact Information:
Gregg Sansone
636-236-2267
greggsansone@hotmail.com