Seniors, Depression & Harm Accessibility

 

In our minds, it is a very scary circumstance when someone suffering from severe depression or dementia has access to a weapon. If suicidal thoughts were to enter the equation, then having a nearby gun could be extremely dangerous to their well being. And it’s worth noting that seniors may be especially vulnerable to this type of scenario, as referenced in a new article on The Fix website.

 

According to stats they published from The Annals of Internal Medicine, as many as 16 percent of senior Americans with symptoms of mental illness have guns in their home. Couple that with the fact that men aged 65 and above have the greatest U.S. rate of suicide (particularly from firearms) and you can see the dark direction of these situations.

 

In the dementia scenario, things can take an even more dangerous turn. Confused older Americans may accidentally turn the gun on a spouse or a family member in the home who they may no longer recall. It’s a more common issue than you may think, with more than 100 cases per year of people with dementia injuring themselves or others with a gun.

 

The Internal Medicine study cited all of these risks, believing that this issue deserves national attention. Co-author Ali Rowhani-Rahbar was quoted in the article, emphasizing that firearms safety is essential for people suffering from these types of diagnoses.

 

“If we were doing a good job in promoting gun safety, you would expect that the prevalence of living in a home with a gun or unsafe storage would be lower when somebody’s experiencing dementia or suicide risk factors, right?” he explained in the article. “But the lack of any difference indicates that many of the guidelines or recommendations so far have fallen short and we need to be much more active about promoting firearms safety.”

 

We understand that gun control is a very delicate topic in this country. But wherever your leanings may lie, there is no denying that people with dementia or severe depression could pose a big risk if they have regular weapon access.

 

Particularly in the case of afflicted seniors, having close family members monitor and properly store firearms is essential. And in both cases, getting older Americans into proper treatment programs can make a world of difference as well.

 

For depression and suicidal thoughts, we highly recommend getting in touch with our trained professionals. Choosing to live isolated and armed is simply not the proper solution.

 

Mental Health Struggles Within The African-American Community

 

We’ve talked before about minorities and the various emotional struggles that certain ethnic groups face. But it is worth noting that the African-American community has some particularly high statistics when it comes to depression, anxiety and suicide. This fact was recently brought up by actress and mental health advocate Taraji P. Henson, who has vowed to bring more awareness to the issue.

 

Henson was honored at Variety’s Power of Women luncheon this past month in New York. During her acceptance speech, the Empire star zeroed in on the mental health message and its personal attachment to her life.

 

“The number of black children ages 5-12 who have died by suicide has doubled since the 1990s,” Henson told the reporters in the crowd. “This is a national crisis. My dad fought in the Vietnam War for our country, returned broken, and received little to no physical and emotional support. I stand now in his absence, committed to offering support to African Americans who face trauma daily, simply because they are black.”

 

Indeed, these issues affect African-Americans of all ages. Henson admitted that she too has struggled with mental illness and has now created a foundation (in her father’s name) to help battle stigmas within the black community. The Boris Henson Foundation officially got off the ground in 2018 and offers support, as well as therapy resources for anyone who reaches out.

 

The site also has some alarming facts pertaining to African-Americans and mental health. For example, it reports that one out of five U.S. black citizens suffers from some type of emotional struggle. They have also been singled out as one of the minority groups least likely to seek treatment. There are additional stats on incarcerations and the fact that over 300,000 jailed African-Americans were reported to have some type of mental issue.

 

Henson included an impassioned letter on the Henson Foundation page. As she explains to her followers, she wants to help change the narrative and encourage any African-Americans who are struggling to reach out and get help.

 

“This foundation is breaking the silence by speaking out and encouraging others to share their challenges with mental illness and get the help they need,” she wrote. “African-Americans have regarded such communication as a sign of weakness and our vision is to change that perception. I ask you to join me on this journey. This is our legacy. This is our chance to make a difference. Together, we will break the silence and break the cycle!”

 

Mental Health And Life Expectancy

 

As we’ve discussed many times before on our blogs, living with an untreated mental illness can be absolutely devastating. But can it actually shorten your life? According to some new research from U.S. News & World Report, the answer is yes. But most alarming is the fact that it can impact life expectancy as much as smoking and even diabetes.

 

Over 3,000 different communities took part in this study, which touched on a variety of health-related spectrums. Everything from nutrition, to housing, to education was measured, all in the hopes of understanding what can help Americans live long and fruitful lives. Of course it’s not a stretch to think that a mental illness could shorten your years (issues like suicide and anorexia come to mind), but the fact that it’s on par with cigarette consumption or a debilitating disease like diabetes is surprising.

 

Garth Graham, president of the Aetna Foundation, spoke to the press following the findings. He too was quite surprised to see mental health rank so high as a life expectancy hindrance; particularly since it was not at this level for several years prior.

 

“I at first wanted us to double check,” Graham told CNBC. “Mental health did not have as strong of an effect last year. However, the change is consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data that showed increasing opioid overdoses and suicides weighed on U.S. life expectancy.”

 

Indeed, mental health and addiction often go hand in hand. Those dealing with depression and similar issues often turn to substances to help numb the pain. America’s opioid crisis certainly isn’t helping matters either, with many fatal overdoses that appear to be intentional.

 

Several states were named in the study as having been the most impacted by mental illness. Nebraska, for example, saw life expectancy shorten significantly because of depression and addiction. They see roughly 26 suicides to every 100,000 people and the count is quite similar when it comes to drug-related overdoses. New Mexico, Ohio and Maryland were also named as having shorter life spans due to mental health struggles.

 

The only silver lining we can see is that issues like this are most certainly treatable. As opposed to something like diabetes, mental health does not have cut your life short. Counseling, support systems and proper therapeutic care can make a major difference. If you or someone you care about is struggling, please do not hesitate to reach out.

 

More Young Adults Are Contemplating Suicide

We all know that your late teens and early 20’s can be a stressful time. Gaining independence and beginning a college career, or perhaps first entering the workforce and taking on new responsibilities…Regardless of what the journey may be, those years have traditionally been associated with with anxiety, depression and self doubt. But now it appears as though things have taken a turn for the worse. According to new research, the rate of adolescents experiencing mental health struggles and suicidal thoughts has jumped up by 52 percent since 2005.

The time span of the study ran from 2005 to 2017. Even more alarming is the fact that the percentage switches to 63 percent if you measure just the past eight years alone. USA Today touched on the research on their site, sharing modern stressors that may be contributing to the uptick. One big call out was digital media usage, as in social networks where issues like cyber-bullying run rampant. There have also been economic woes, global fears, gender struggles and (as we know right here in Los Angeles) a sharp rise in homelessness.

Interestingly, the depression and suicidal stats remained somewhat stagnant among older adults within the same time period. In our opinion, this truly goes to show that the newer generations have much more pressure than ever before.

San Diego State University professor Jean Twenge co-authored the report and shared her own reasons for these alarming stats.

“Cultural trends in the last 10 years may have had a larger effect on mood disorders and suicide-related outcomes among younger generations compared with older generations,” she explained. “These results suggest a need for more research to understand how digital communication versus face-to-face social interaction influences mood disorders and suicide-related outcomes and to develop specialized interventions for younger age groups.”

Indeed, other studies have shown that depression and anxiety now rank higher among this set than even drug or alcohol abuse. Many young people are also closely connected to their phones and the web, which can often lead to more harm than good. Upsetting news amongst their Facebook circle, rejections from dating apps and potential trolling from unwanted associates all play a big part in a person’s self-esteem.

Whatever the reason, if you or someone you are close to is a young person struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, please know that help is readily available. There is no doubt that the modern world can be a difficult place to navigate through, but with professional support and guidance there is always a brighter tomorrow.

Mental Health And The ‘Gig Economy’

 

A common phrase used to describe the times we live in is “gig economy,” as in the average American is now working multiple “gigs” to keep up with the increased cost of living. And that can mean moonlighting as an Uber driver, freelancing in the evening and all sorts of tasks that expand your work week beyond 40 hours. But how does all of that affect mental health? A new article on The Fix offered some interesting insights.

 

The truth of the matter is, those who put in longer than average work hours do show more signs of depression (particularly among women). And let’s not forget about the anxiety factor as well. If you now serve multiple bosses, chances are you’re undergoing twice as much stress.

 

Fix writer Kelly Burch gathered most of this data from a recent study published in The Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. As lead research author Gill Weston explained, some interesting data arose, but there is still much more to be explored. She was particularly concerned with the stats about overworked women (who were showing a 7.3 percent more likelihood to be depressed after putting in dozens of hours).

 

“Women in general are more likely to be depressed than men, and this was no different in the study,” Weston explained. “Independent of their working patterns, we also found that workers with the most depressive symptoms were older, on lower incomes, smokers, in physically demanding jobs, and who were dissatisfied at work.”

 

Sadly, many of the people who do take on extra jobs find themselves in the midst of a thankless profession. Driving an Uber, for example, can put you in front of cranky customers, just as you would experience if you were working an additional part-time retail gig.

 

The extra jobs usually start off because of a need for more income as well. So we are definitely certain that added bills (perhaps relating to child costs) can trigger some of these depressive feelings.

 

Though Weston understood that, in many cases, people may not have a choice when it comes to taking on extra work, she did hope that these findings could get in front of employers in the hopes of making them more sympathetic.

 

“We do hope our findings will encourage employers and policymakers to think about how to reduce the burdens and increase support for those who work long or irregular hours—without restricting their ability to work when they wish to,” she concluded. “More sympathetic working practices could bring benefits both for workers and for employers—of both sexes.”

 

The Truth About ‘Smiling Depression’

 

There are certain warning signs that are easy to decipher when diagnosing a person with depression. But others are much more subtle and can be overlooked. In fact a close person in your life may be struggling with severe mental health issues, yet present themselves in a happy or positive way. We feel it is important to bring topics like “smiling depression” to the forefront because it is these cases that can leave people unprepared for severe consequences (such as a surprise suicide, perhaps).

 

The Fix recently covered this topic on their blog page, highlighting just how common it is for a depressed person to put on the facade of happiness. In fact, their research shows that up to 40 percent of people who suffer from depression may not exhibit outward symptoms (such as crying, sadness and the inability to get out of bed).

 

“It can be very hard to spot people suffering from smiling depression,” Science Alert researcher Olivia Remes told the site. “They may seem like they don’t have a reason to be sad—they have a job, an apartment and maybe even children or a partner. They smile when you greet them and can carry pleasant conversations. In short, they put on a mask to the outside world while leading seemingly normal and active lives.”

 

Remes went on to say that there can be other visible symptoms of smiling depression beyond outward unhappiness. Call outs included sudden weight gain, a change in appetite, constant sleepiness and increased withdrawals from social events. So people suffering from this could be quite jovial when they see you, but still change certain behavioral patterns.

 

University of Michigan professor Dr.Michelle B. Riba was also quoted on the site. She actually felt that people who fall under the smiling depression category may not even realize that they themselves have a problem.

 

“Many people will come to their doctor complaining about sleep problems, or headaches, not realizing that it’s a mood disorder because they don’t have low mood,” she explained. “Not all symptoms of depression always occur at once.”

 

Eventually though, the dark feelings do catch up to you and that’s where a condition like this could really get serious. How many times have we heard about seemingly “happy” people taking their own lives? If you ask us, it is always important to check in with those close to you and lend support if you suspect that smiling depression may be lurking underneath an upbeat smile.

 

Is Rage A Sign Of Depression?

 

On the surface, aligning rage and depression seems a bit counterintuitive. Someone who is angry is perceived to behave differently than someone who is clinically depressed. But look a little deeper and you may start to see an interesting connection. This happens to be a point that was recently brought up by NPR and one that we think merits further investigation.

 

Writer Nell Greenfield Boyce pretty much summed up the same statement in the beginning of her article.

 

“Many people — including physicians — associate depression with feelings of hopelessness, sadness and a lack of motivation or concentration, but not anger,” she writes. “And even if you pick up what is often called the ‘bible of psychiatry,’ the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, you’ll find that the list of core symptoms for major depression doesn’t include anger. But irritability — a reduced control over one’s temper that results in angry outbursts — is listed as a core symptom of depression.”

 

Noted Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Maurizio Fava also contributed to the piece and shed some light into why there has been such a disconnect all these years. He explained that when he was trained in the subject, the common thought was that anger is projected inward during depression. In essence, depressed people are angry at themselves and not others.

 

But more recent case studies examined by Dr. Fava have educated him otherwise. In fact, he found that people prone to outbursts share many of the same traits as “depressed” or “anxious” people going through a panic attack. He aligned anger attacks in the same vein and actually saw some success when people prone to rage were treated with antidepressants.

 

And on the flip side, more recent studies have shown that those diagnosed with depression do experience angry emotions on a regular basis.

 

“A recent large study looked at more than 500 people who had been diagnosed with major depression,” Greenfield Boyce added. “It found that more than half showed overt irritability/anger, and that this anger and irritability appeared to be associated with more severe, chronic depression.”

 

Ultimately, these all fall under the category of mental health. Whether you’re consistently angry or sad (or possibly both), it is important to not just zero in on certain emotions. At Inneractions, we specialize in treating co-occurring disorders and believe that healing truly begins when you look at the bigger picture.

 

How Diet And Health Impact Depression

 

Truth be told, depression is much more than an “emotional issue.” There truly is a science behind all of this, as genetic links and research studies have shown. And proving that point even more, is a new article from the acclaimed online medical resource, WebMD. Doctors from that site now claim that even germs and microorganisms play a part in chronic sadness, as evidenced by a newly discovered gut bacteria.

 

The link can tie back to certain diets and a lack of probiotics. When surveying roughly 2,100 adults, WebMD’s researchers found that those with depression did have differences in specific groups of gut bacteria. Those with an imbalance of microbes suffered from issues with their immune system and a decrease in the production of chemicals that influence the brain.

 

This chemical deficiency (at least among the 2,100 surveyed) showed direct links to depression. The other notable stat to be revealed was the “vicious cycle” that occurs once this diagnosis has taken place. We know that many people with depression don’t eat well and often have a loss of appetite. According to the researchers, those symptoms only further the problem.

 

“It becomes almost like a chicken-and-egg question,” UCLA researchers Dr. Emeran Mayer told the site. “People with depression certainly have different diets, and different habits, than people without depression. And that would affect the gut microbiome.”

 

Continued studies are being done to determine the initial causes of this type of bacterial infection and how it can be combated. Dr. Mayer did admit that healthier eating and regular vitamin supplements would all be beneficial. But science has yet to prove if that alone will completely remove the issue.

 

Foods that have shown to have a positive effect thus far include vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains (all of which fall into a healthy regular diet). Dr. Mayer also emphasized the avoidance of processed foods if you think you’re suffering from depressive symptoms.

 

“I’d say eat a diet that’s largely plant-based and highly variable in the types of plant foods,” Mayer concluded. “If you’re just eating tomatoes, that’s not enough.”

 

Obviously, overcoming depression requires a lot more than changing what you eat. But we wholeheartedly agree that a healthy diet can make a significant difference in your emotional (and physical) well being. Nevertheless, we encourage anyone suffering from chronic sadness to reach out and add therapeutic support into your recovery toolkit.

 

Support For The Musically Minded

Choosing to devote your professional life to music can come with many highs and lows. Of course, playing instruments and creating songs can be incredibly rewarding and it is a passion for many people. But being able to support that existence can lead to stress and emotional turmoil. And it’s well documented that those who succeed in that industry often struggle with substance abuse and depression. Because of facts like that, more and more support groups are emerging to help musicians push through their pain.

Similar to being an actor, for example, succeeded as a musician requires some very thick skin. There are often high pressure auditions, cut contracts and difficulties with management that can lead to tremendous financial stress. This, as it were, happens to be one of the major reasons that those in the industry deal with issues like depression, addiction and anxiety.

And though you wouldn’t necessarily think there were mental illness struggles among classical musicians, the stats are surprising there as well. In fact, over in New York City a special support group called the Me2 Orchestra has emerged. Here, fellow violinists, cellists and conductors gather to offer emotional reassurance and build group therapy conversations.

The founder of that particular organization is a noted east coast maestro by the name of Ronald Braunstein. Though he is a Julliard graduate and the winner of the prestigious Karajan International Conducting Award, Braunstein openly admits that his high pressure life has led to some dark struggles.

“The unbelievable mania I experienced probably helped me win the Karajan,” he explained in a recent article. “I learned repertoire fast. I studied through the night and wouldn’t sleep. I didn’t eat because if I did, it would take away my edge.”

Talking about his issues with his fellow musicians (and offering support of his own) has helped bring Braunstein away from his dark place. Now the Me2 Orchestra is helping dozens more, building support for performance anxiety, alcoholism and bipolar disorder.

And believe us, this happens in other music circles all of the time. Whether it’s a rock band member abusing drugs, a vocalist with issues singing in public or even a hip hop artist confessing pain through his lyrics, life as a performer can have many challenges.

We certainly want to make ourselves available for anyone who is struggling with these problems. If you or someone you are close to is having a hard time making their musical dreams come true, always remember that we are here to help.

Millennials And Mental Health

 

You hear about them all of the time in news stories and research reports. The Millennial Generation is truly coming into its own, as they should. But how are these 20 and 30-somethings coping when it comes to depression, addiction and mental health? It’s an interesting question and one that The American Psychological Association is beginning to delve into.

 

According to a 2018 survey they conducted, millennials (and the Generation Z that’s behind them, for that matter) are more likely than older Americans to rate their mental health state as “fair” or “poor.” They also believe themselves to be at a higher stress level than other generations.

 

Many other research reports have concluded the same thing. This particular sect of Americans (roughly born between the years of 1982 and 2004) have experienced a lot more cynicism and mistrust when it comes to their surroundings. They were, after all, thrust into the job market in the middle of a major economic recession. They were also impressionable youths when catastrophes like 9/11 and the “War on Terror” began to take place. So, in essence, it is not surprising to hear that they are not as cheery as their parents or grandparents once were.

 

One positive note about millennials that came out of the study was the fact they are much more likely to seek out professional help than generations prior. This may have to do with the de-stigmatization of therapy and recovery practices when it comes to a serious problem. The interesting stat that the Association uncovered was that over one-third of millennials said they were receiving treatment or therapy from a mental health professional.

 

But the unfortunate problem today is that many within this age sect do not have sufficient health insurance and cannot afford proper treatment. TheFix.com covered this issue on their blog page and revealed that in a city like Philadelphia, for example, 22% of citizens aged 18-34 had no health insurance. And when you take insurance out of the mix, a therapy session can go for as much as $150 to $200 (quite expensive for a young person’s salary).

 

So it appears as though these people recognize the need for mental health support, but often lack the means to receive it. This happens to be a scenario we encounter frequently at our facility. But the good news is, there are always ways to work through the financial burdens. Above all, escaping the pain of mental anguish should be a person’s primary goal and we would be happy to talk anyone in need; searching for solutions that can work within a millennial budget.