Despite many public campaigns to educate people about mental health and illness, there is still a stigma attached to mental health problems. Some older adults may fi nd mental health issues diffi cult to discuss.
Such conversations, however, can be lifesavers. Primary care doctors have a key opportunity to recognize when a patient is depressed and/or suicidal.
In fact, 70 percent of older patients who commit suicide have seen a primary care physician within the previous month. This makes it especially important for you to be alert to the signs and symptoms of depression.
As with other subjects, try a general approach to bringing up mental health concerns. For example, “A lot of us develop sleep problems as we get older, 30
talking about sensitive subjects
For more information on mental health, contact: