Aging and
Disability Networks Playing a Key Role in Suicide Prevention
By Tom Moran, Deputy Administrator for Regional Operations
and Partnership Development
According to a recent CDC report,
over 40% of U.S. adults report struggles with mental health or substance
use. Nearly 11% reported seriously considering suicide over the last 30
days. Those who report that they are unpaid caregivers were more
significantly more likely to have mental health problems than
non-caregivers. Although anyone can experience a behavioral health
condition, like depression, substance abuse, or suicidal ideation, the
data tells us that older adults and people with disabilities are
disproportionally impacted by these issues and are less likely to receive
treatment.
CDC also reports that suicide rates among our nation’s youth
have increased 56% since 2007. It is the second leading cause of death
amongst individuals age 15 – 24. Data shows that youth with disabilities
are four times more likely to think about suicide than their nondisabled
peers.
The good news is that there are many resources available
that can lead to faster diagnosis and treatment and help prevent social
isolation, increased disability, and other problems.
As we observe Suicide Prevention Month in September, I can’t
help but reflect on the key role that the aging and disability networks
in ensuring those we serve maintain their mental health and stay socially
connected. The value these networks provide – their capacity to deliver
personalized, impactful, and cost-effective services that meet social
determinants of health – is truly unparalleled. And our partnerships with
state and community behavioral health providers remain critical for
connecting folks with the specialized services they may need to prevent
and treat mental health and substance use disorders. Below are some great
examples of work across ACL to promote positive mental health and prevent
suicide.
The national nutrition network has been hard at work
ensuring folks get the sustenance that they need, and have opportunities
to stay connected to one another and their communities. The Older
American’s Act meal programs have always provided benefits far beyond a
meal – they are a gateway to other resources, often connecting older
adult to interventions before problems become crises, they provide
nutrition education, and they create opportunities for socialization. And
some of them are tackling suicide prevention directly. For example, with
funding from ACL, a team led by researchers at Georgia State
University provided the 14-hour evidence-based Applied
Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) to
equip 160 volunteers who deliver meals to older adults at their
homes with skills to do a suicide intervention. These volunteers
performed more than 60 suicide interventions in just a few months before
services were interrupted due to Covid-19.
ACL also continues to invest in both the development and the
delivery of health promotion and disease prevention programs. In this
time of social distancing, many of these programs have found creative and
tech savvy ways to keep people engaged remotely. The ACL National Chronic
Disease Self-Management Education Resource Center will be hosting a webinar
on September 28, 2020, from 2-3:30 pm ET, highlighting how
community-based organizations can deliver interventions to reduce mental
stress and prevent suicide during this critical time.
ACL funds the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
(MHDD) National Training Center. The Center works to improve mental
health services and supports for people with developmental disabilities
by serving as a national clearinghouse that provides access to the most
current evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive practices
that address the mental health needs of individuals with developmental
disabilities.
Our Office for American Indian, Alaskan Native and Native
Hawaiian Programs recently partnered with Dr. Alec Thundercloud, Director
of the SAMHSA
Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy. Dr. Thundercloud shared
that in 2018, the suicide rate for American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN)
populations (22.1 per 100,000) was much higher than the overall U.S.
suicide rate (14.2 per 100,000). Our Title VI programs fulfill an
important role in supporting the mental health of the AI/AN elder
population. They provide nutrition and supportive services that offer
critical social contact that can help reduce the risk of depression and
isolation experienced by many home-bound AI/AN Elders. In 2018, Title VI
grantees provided over 2.6 million home-delivered meals to more than
22,000 American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native Hawaiian elders. Title VI
programs also provided more than 400,000 home visits and over 350,000
units of telephone support to their elders. This type of consistent,
in-person support to elders alleviates loneliness, social isolation and
connects elders with the community.
ACL’s National Institute on Disability, Independent Living,
and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)’s portfolio in mental health,
promotes protective factors for people with a wide range of disabilities
and impairments across populations of all ages. As one example, research
conducted on the impact of Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT), on psychological distress among
persons with Traumatic Brain Injury. ACT is a psychotherapy, derived from
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), aimed at enhancing meaning in one’s
life and changing behavior through helping them accept their own thoughts
and feelings without judgement, helping them identify personal values,
setting activity goals consistent with those values, and committing to
pursue personal values-based activities. Additional research and
programming utilizing evidence-based programs, such as the Wellness
Recovery Action Plan Program, are particularly important for supporting
those with serious mental illness, who are at increased risk of suicide.
ACL continues to invest in research, programs, and practices
to support positive mental health for older adults and persons with
disabilities. I encourage you to check out the resources below to learn
more. I am extremely proud of what our aging and disability networks are
doing to join the fight.
Resources:
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