Needham Acts - Elders

As An Older Adult

Older adult life can be gratifying and full, but it can also bring the pain and distress of losing a loved one or of coping with physical illness. Hopelessness and disengagement can accompany these experiences and lead to depression and thoughts of ending one’s life. The members of our community in Needham want you to know that while very distressing, the pain of these feelings can go away. The town is committed to getting you help to feel better. Please look at the information on the links listed below to get help now or better understand your depression.

If you are thinking about suicide or self-harm, there is help for you.

If you think you may be depressed, help is available.

As a Family Member or Friend Concerned about an Elder

As family members and friends caring for and about elders, we often become lifelines for them. As we attempt to help them manage situations that we know little about and even less how to resolve, such as helping them negotiate the social experience of aging, the distress of illness, the loss of a spouse, and the tasks of maintaining a home and a good quality of life, we may well be faced with helping an older adult who is experiencing significant depression. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, 2 million out of the 35 million older adults in this country experience significant depressive disorders. Elders experiencing this level of distress in their lives are at risk for suicide, another situation we do not easily recognize, understand, or know how to respond. We hope that the information provided in this section offers support to family and friends in their efforts to help elders who are in great emotional distress.

If an elder you know is depressed or thinking about suicide, there is help for him.