It’s no secret that as the Baby Boomers age, we will witness the largest numbers of people over age 65 ever. Not as well known, is that the number of older adults with mental illness will increase at an alarmingly fast rate.

1. BOOM IN DEPRESSION:
Recognizing the Signs
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because as a leading provider of mental health and behavioral services in the
region, we are dedicated to helping you live your best life.
This slide share
first appeared on
www.YourTimeBC.org

2. It’s no secret that as the Baby
Boomers age, we will witness the
largest numbers of people over
age 65 ever. Not as well known,
is that the number of older adults
with mental illness will increase at
an alarmingly fast rate.

3. THE FACTS:
Source: National Alliance
on Mental Illness
DEPRESSION
AFFECTS MORE
THAN 6.5 MILLION
OF THE 35 MILLION
ADULTS AGES 65
AND OVER.
35 MILLION ADULTS
AGE 65 AND OVER
From 1999 to 2010, the suicide rate among Baby Boomers rose
significantly according to a report from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. Suicide rates among men in their
50s jumped nearly 50 percent. In women ages 60-64, rates
increased by 60 percent.

4. REASONS FOR BOOMER
DEPRESSION:
• Recent economic downturn: The Great Recession
not only dented many baby boomers’ nest eggs, it
also affected the health insurance, labor and housing
markets, complicating the outlook for their future
financial security.
• Being “the sandwich generation”: Caring for aging
parents while still providing financial and emotional
support for children.
• Increased access to opioid drugs like OxyContin
and oxycodone
• Medical conditions: like strokes or heart attacks,
can trigger depression

5. THE PROBLEM:
• There are only about 1,800 board-certified geriatric
psychiatrists in the U.S.— 1 for every 23,000 older Americans.
By 2030, there will likely be 1 geriatric psychiatrist for every
27,000 individuals 65 and older.
• Older adults with untreated depression have an increase in
medical bills of up to 50%
2014 2030
= =
1 Board-Certified
Geriatric
Psychiatrist
1 Board-Certified
Geriatric
Psychiatrist
23,000 Older Americans 27,000 Older Americans

6. KNOW THE SIGNS:
• Sadness
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Unexplained aches
& pains
• Anxiety & Worry
• Abandoning or losing
interest in hobbies or other
pleasurable activities
• Social withdrawal
and isolation
• Weight loss; loss
of appetite
• Sleep disturbances
• Loss of self-worth,
feeling like a “burden”
• Increased use of
alcohol, illicit drugs
or prescription drugs

7. DEPRESSION IS NOT A
NORMAL PART OF AGING.
If you or a loved one is experiencing
symptoms of depression, Community
Behavioral Health’s UPLIFT program
can help. For more information about
UPLIFT, call 513-868-5126 or visit
www.cbh-services.org
Community First Solutions is the non-profit parent company of Colonial,
Community Behavioral Health, Community First Pharmacy and Partners in Prime.