WISCONSIN UNITED
for MENTAL HEALTH

Stressful life events, such as declining health and/or the loss of mates, family members, or friends often increase with age. However, persistent bereavement or serious depression is not "normal" and should be treated. Normal aging is not characterized by mental or cognitive disorders.  To learn more about mental health and older adults, visit our Mental Health and Aging page.  Mental or substance use disorders that present alone or co-occur should be recognized and treated as illnesses.  On the Mental Illnesses and Older Adults page you will find brief explanations on many mental disorders, with links to more in-depth information.

Misc. General Resources
Older Adults and Mental Health  (Chapter 5 from "Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General," 1999)

Mentally Healthy Aging: A Report on Overcoming Stigma for Older Americans, 2005   (SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center)

Transforming the Mental Health System for Older Adults with Mental Illnesses (Position Statement of the Older Persons Division (OPD), National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD))

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders among Older Adults: The State of Knowledge and Future Directions, 2005 (.pdf; Older Americans Substance Abuse and Mental Health Technical Assistance Center)