Mental Health Awareness

October is Mental Health Awareness Month; a time to focus on promoting mental health, reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek help for mental health conditions. During this month, various events and activities are held to raise awareness, educate the public and provide support to people struggling with a decline in their mental health. We wear the looped green ribbon as a symbol of hope, strength and solidarity.

USC-VHH Community Resource Center for Aging aims to enhance mental health among older adults and their care partners. The World Health Organization (2023) shares facts that highlight this critical need:

• By 2030, one in six people in the world will be aged 60 years or over.
• Loneliness and social isolation are key risk factors for mental health conditions in later life.
• One in six older adults experience abuse, often by their own carers.
• Approximately 14% of adults aged 60 and over live with a mental disorder.
• Men aged 75 and over have the highest suicide risk.

Mental health parity means that your health insurance covers medical and mental illnesses equally. This includes equal coverage for services like therapy, medication and inpatient treatment. Unfortunately for many, such insurance benefits remain aspirational and coverage for mental health needs may be either lacking or confusing to access.

Resource specialists at USC-VHH educate about dementia, depression and delirium. They assess if an older adult is at higher risk of isolation and elder abuse. 

While these are complex individual issues, a complimentary and confidential telephone consultation is a great step one can take on the path to an improved quality of life. Our community has services and support directly designed to address the mental health among older adults and their care partners. Call the USC-VHH Community Resource Center for Aging at (818) 949-4033 to get started.