NVH opens mental health office for seniors

North Valley Hospital recently launched an outpatient mental health program called Embrace Health for adults 55 and older who suffer from emotional, behavioral or mental health disorders.

Loss of a loved one, heart conditions and even a stroke can lead seniors down a path toward depression. Suicide rates are highest among Americans 75 and older, about 37.4 per 100,000 people, according to Flathead County Health Department. White men over 85 account for the highest rate at nearly 50 per 100,000.

But it doesn't have to be that way, says Mary Jane Fox, director of the hospital's new program.

"Elders are at a much higher risk of depression because it goes unrecognized," Fox said. "That's often due to myths, such as that it's natural to be depressed when you're old because of all the losses and health complications we face."

But it's a myth that aging includes depression, Fox said. Depression is treatable and people recover from it. The social stigma of mental illnesses often keeps seniors from seeking the help they need, she said.

The Embrace Health program uses individual and group sessions for both seniors and their caregivers. Fox notes that group sessions can be helpful to anyone who has fallen into a state of isolation.

"A lot of the power of the group is that you're not the only one," she said. "To be able to be with others like you and talk is very helpful."

As the Baby Boomer generation reaches retirement age, the need for such a program is expected to grow significantly. The Flathead, Fox notes, is an emerging retirement area.

"This corner of Montana is drawing a lot of aging people," she said. "Adults with kids have moved here, so they're moving their elder parents here, too. We're a senior magnet right now."

For more information on the hospital's program, call 862-4763.