Prioritizing Your Mental And Emotional Health

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 14 percent of adults 60 and older have a mental health condition, accounting for about 10 percent of total disability among seniors.

While the stigma around mental and emotional health is starting to fade, many older individuals still feel uncomfortable addressing how they’re feeling and thinking. If this sounds familiar to you, understanding the importance of prioritizing your mental and emotional health can improve your overall well-being and lead to a happier, healthier life.

What Is Mental And Emotional Health?

Mental and emotional health is your well-being in regard to how you think and feel. As you age, you’ll experience life-changing events, especially in your life's second or third act. Retirement, losing loved ones, seeing your children move away, and downsizing are common experiences for seniors. Still, these events are also major changes that can impact your mental and emotional health.

Common mental and emotional health conditions among older adults include:

• Depression: Depression is more than feeling sad. Depression is a mood disorder that can affect everything from how you feel to how you think and process information. People with depression can start to lose interest in things, eat less, or withdraw themselves from daily activities.
• Anxiety: Anxiety is a persistent feeling of dread or stress that will not go away. Like depression, anxiety can lead to withdrawal from daily activities, loved ones, and important life aspects.
• Social isolation/loneliness: Older adults often feel socially isolated because they have health conditions that inhibit them from leaving the home, or their social circle dwindles because of retirement, moving, or losing loved ones. Not having meaningful interactions with others can make seniors feel sad, alone, or like they no longer have a purpose.

Mental And Emotional Health Support in Farmington, NM

It’s important to prioritize your mental health, especially as you age. When you put your mental and emotional health first, you can significantly improve your quality of life. There are resources in Farmington, New Mexico, dedicated to helping residents manage their mental and emotional health.

San Juan County Mental Wellness Resource Center

The San Juan County Mental Wellness Resource Center helps locals navigate the emotional, mental, and behavioral health services available throughout San Juan County. The center provides information to residents, raises awareness of various mental health conditions, offers suicide prevention efforts, and assists in finding secure housing.

NAMI San Juan County

The National Alliance of Mental Illness in San Juan works to improve the quality of life for those with a mental health condition. They provide educational resources and support groups to help people navigate their challenges. They also advocate for awareness about certain conditions and crisis support.

Mental And Emotional Health Support From Visiting Angels

You don’t have to manage your mental and emotional health alone. The team at Visiting Angels can help manage at-home tasks that may be causing stress, provide medication reminders, help research nearby support groups, and provide transportation. We also help with personal grooming, cooking, showering, toileting, dressing, and mobility.

Send us a message or give us a call at 505-516-1150 to schedule a no-cost, no-pressure consultation with our agency. We gladly welcome the opportunity to talk about how our agency can help you or a loved one feel better supported.