Chesterfield, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and Chesterfield County and the Chesterfield Suicide Awareness and Prevention Coalition are working to raise awareness about how to spot and respond to signs of suicide in older adults.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data showing that people ages 85 and older had the highest rates of suicide in 2022, followed by people ages 75- to- 84.
“The recent CDC data regarding high rates of suicide in older adults is alarming,” said Melissa Ackley, Prevention Services manager for Chesterfield Mental Health Support Services. “It is important that older adults, their children, and those that work with older adults know that depression and thoughts of suicide are not a standard part of aging. It’s also important to be aware of signs of mental health concerns and connect to help if needed.”
The Coalition is pushing the message that depression is not a standard part of aging. Those with older loved ones should be aware of the signs of depression or suicidal thoughts. Those signs can include withdrawing from friends and family or activities, changes in sleep patterns, talking about feeling trapped or hopeless, or talking about death or dying more than normal.
For older adults, staying involved in meaningful recreational and social activities is essential to positive mental health, says Ackley.
"We encourage people to have conversations with their loved ones about that," she says. "Explore what kind of connections your loved ones have and help to facilitate those connections."
Ackley also recommends utilizing a primary care physician to ensure that physical health issues aren't contributing to mental health issues.
"Sometimes mental health symptoms are related to physical health concerns, and there can be correlation in symptoms," she says.
Chesterfield County has a variety of resources to help older residents stay connected, including telephone reassurance, volunteer opportunities and recreational activities. More information on Chesterfield's Aging and Disabilities resources can be found here.
For immediate emergency help, call Chesterfield's Crisis Intervention phone number (804) 748-6356, or call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8.
