Wisdom comes with age, but senior adults also need resilience to cope with physical, emotional and mental challenges that can come during the golden years. Even people who have faced difficult situations earlier in life can find it hard to cope with building a post-retirement life, chronic illness, physical disability or the death of loved ones.

Mental health issues can go unidentified and untreated among older adults. While everyone feels down from time to time, feelings of anxiety or depression that last more than a few weeks or months can indicate the person needs more help and resources.

While many seniors struggle with depression and anxiety, individuals and families do not have to accept it as a normal part of the aging process. We all benefit when seniors can thrive; they have so much to share with their families and communities.

Here are seven common stressors and risk factors that occur later in life that can impact mental health:

• Feeling overwhelmed by emotions and life changes that occur with aging
• Grief from losing a long-time partner, friends, family members and/or independence
• Mood changes impacting appetite, energy levels, sleep patterns, anxiety levels, etc.
• Difficulty managing well-being, finding alternate social outlets and enjoyable activities following retirement
• Reliance on unhealthy coping skills
• Fear of getting older, including the mental and physical effects of aging and facing mortality
• A sudden need for long-term in-home or residential care

Seniors who are struggling with depression and anxiety should not feel helpless, nor should their loved ones. Research shows that the combination of medication management and talk therapy can lead to better outcomes and overall improved quality of life. People with depression and anxiety need a place to tell their stories to people who will offer support.

Group therapy sessions can encourage seniors with feedback from a licensed therapist, as well others who are facing similar challenges. The sessions are designed to help you explore and identify positive coping skills. It offers a safe space to try new ways of relating.

As seniors seek treatment for depression and anxiety, they need a space where they are treated with compassion and respect. It is often helpful to seek out programs dedicated to the unique challenges facing seniors, such as the Senior Intensive Outpatient Program at North Mississippi Medical Center-Pontotoc.

The program accepts Medicare and Medicaid along with most supplemental insurance policies. Transportation is provided within 30 miles of Pontotoc, and lunch is served.

If you or someone you care about needs help, call (662) 488-8007.