Aging Can Bring Mental Health Challenges, But Resources Are Available

CHATHAM – Life can be hard — and sometimes, it seems the more living a person has done, the more challenges can accumulate. Luckily, mental health resources are available for seniors and others who feel like they’re struggling.

 For the past year, Chatham has offered its residents the services of a mental health clinician who’s available to meet, conduct an assessment, and connect people to a broad range of services. 

 “It’s hard for people to ask for help. It’s a small town,” Adult Behavioral Health Clinician Diane Nash said. A licensed social worker, Nash works closely with the town’s Center for Active Living, the police and fire departments, Outer Cape Health Services and a host of nonprofits to connect with “a lot of elders in need of all types of services,” she said. 

 Where mental health problems are concerned, there’s rarely a single issue at play, and contributing factors can include everything from housing and healthcare to transportation and hunger. A person who’s struggling with housing, for instance, might find that it worsens their clinical depression, which might lead to social isolation or substance abuse. But Nash, who specializes in crisis management, is undaunted.

 When she’s contacted by a potential client or by another town official, Nash will arrange a visit, either at her office at the police station or at the senior center, or wherever the client is most comfortable. She assesses the person’s needs during their meeting, and then “it’s really about getting them locked into services,” Nash said. That might mean helping a person connect with community resources that provide assistance with food, housing and transportation, or connecting them with medical or dental services. And she also does short-term one-on-one counseling while she helps arrange any longer-term therapy a client might need.

“I’m here to help, not to make people’s lives harder,” she said. 

 Then, the goal is to work with others, from housing authority officials to the outreach coordinator at the Center for Active Living, to keep an eye on at-risk seniors and make sure they have access to the help they need.

 “It’s really a team approach,” Nash said. She’s available to meet with people in crisis at any time of the day or night, and works closely with first responders. Having an office in the police station “has really given me a different perspective on what the officers face every single day,” she said. For years, when there was a need for mental health crisis intervention, it fell solely to police and firefighters, Nash noted. 

 There are sometimes legal questions that arise during interventions, she noted. For instance, it’s not illegal for a hoarder to live in a house filled with newspapers or other items unless it poses a life safety risk. Situations like that underscore the need for close partnerships between the clinician and first responders, she said. 

 When it comes to heading off some of the most common mental health problems, Nash has some advice about what red flags to watch for.

 “I really think it starts with social isolation,” she said. With organizations willing to deliver groceries, meals and prescriptions right to a senior’s door, “it’s really easy in this town to just stay locked up in your house,” she said. Finding opportunities to socialize — by volunteering or taking part in clubs, sports or activities at the Center for Active Living — can have great benefits for seniors.

 “That should help them live longer and be happier,” Nash said.

 When is it time to reach out for help with concerns about mental health? Nash said she’s glad to answer any kind of question, even from residents who are just curious about the resources available. 

 “If they’re even wondering, then it’s probably time to reach out,” she said. 

 Nash can be reached by calling 508-945-5107 and leaving a message. If immediate help is needed, call 911 or call 508-945-1213 and ask the dispatcher to page the behavioral health clinician.