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A Personal Account of Being a First Generation American

Jaclyn Baker

By: Mindy Laroco

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

While this familiar quote is probably recognized as being said by Isaac Newton referring to others in the scientific community, it is a quote I think about often, especially now as we celebrate National Immigrant Heritage Month. Being a child of immigrants, I’ve often thought about how my life has been so different from the lives that my parents must have lived when they were my age (some of this thought process is fueled by me hearing how different it is from them). 

My mom came to the US when she was 21 years-old with a few suitcases and two hundred dollars in cash. Not only can I guarantee that I would not have been able to handle such a feat at 21 years old, I do not think I will ever fully understand that level of mental fortitude. Both of my parents have put in a tremendous amount of work and effort to allow me to live the life I do today. They are my giants.

Being a first-generation American is something I take great pride in as it shows the fruits of my parent’s struggles to create a life in the US. I also have privileges that my parents did not. One of the striking differences that I have spent hours thinking about is the “luxury”  to not only address any mental health struggles I may be experiencing (such as stress, anxiety, and even depression) but to admit that I am even struggling with such things.

Having the opportunity to address and navigate feelings has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. However, feelings can be hard! And it was challenging at times to figure out what to do with these feelings while experiencing an inherent level of disconnect from my parents; not because they did not want to help me, but because they did not know how.

 Being biracial/bicultural disconnects me from my parents in certain ways, but it has been truly an honor to introduce feelings in all their glory (for example boundaries, communication, emotional regulation, etc.) into a family dynamic where they were not very present or at least were not talked about. Now, when I talk about feelings and engage in a genuine conversation with my family, especially my parents, a part of my heart always warms with the realization that after shouldering the load for so long, my parents can finally sit back and soak in the new perspectives that come with life in the US.

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Local LGBTQIA+ Resources

Jaclyn Baker

By: Erin Gillingham

June is upon us, which means it’s officially Pride Season! Pride is celebrated by the LGBTQIA2S+ (Lesbian, Gay. Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, 2- spirit and others) community each year to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York, a 6 day series of events and protests that followed the violent raiding by police in Manhattan and  popular gay bar The StoneWall Inn.

To this day, Pride symbolizes so much to the LGBTQIA2S+ Community – love, celebration, life, healing, hope and the continual fight towards freedom and equality. While pride is a celebration for most, it can also be a time to reflect on the lack of accessibility so many folks in our community have to adequate health care, mental health services and even basic necessities. Below we have gathered a list of local resources for our community, in the hopes of staying safe and staying healthy. Happy Pride!

Portland

The Q Center – To provide safe spaces, community building and empowerment for the positive transformation of LGBTQ2SIA+ communities and allies in the Pacific Northwest. As the largest LGBTQ+ community center in the Pacific Northwest, Q Center proudly serves the LGBTQ2SIA+ communities of Portland Metro and Southwest Washington.

Brave Space – Creates community and facilitates access to expert and knowledgeable providers for transgender and non-binary children, youth, adults, and their families.

Connective Therapy Collective – Offers different types of therapies, including weekly drop in group therapy for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Full Spectrum Therapy – Our mission is not to operate as “gender therapists,” but to offer a space where the LGBTQ+ experience is normalized, understood, and celebrated. We serve children (age 5+), adolescents, adults, and families connected to the LGBTQ+.

Community

Prism Health – Prism Health is a center of excellence for comprehensive, compassionate and culturally affirming healthcare for everyone with the aim of addressing long-standing health disparities in the LGBTQ+ community and promoting equitable access to healthcare.

Pulse Wellness – Pulse Wellness provides therapy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, queer, questioning, intersex, allies, asexual and pansexual persons of all ages.

Rebel Heart Therapy – At Rebel Heart Therapy, we help the black sheep and unicorns (LGBTQ, poly, kinky, quirky, geeky, burners, weirdos, and creatives) of Portland resist the internalized constraints caused by societal oppression while safely embracing their authentic selves.

SAGE Metro – SAGE Metro Portland works to enhance the lives of older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community members through education, advocacy, outreach and resource development.

Sexual Gender Minority Youth Resource Center (SMYRC) – Provides a community space for youth ages 13-23, as well as support services like counseling, case management, education, and more).

Spectrum Counseling – 971-373-4497 – We are Spectrum Counseling, and we are committed to providing accessible, affordable counseling services to diverse members of the community in Portland, Oregon, and surrounding communities.

The Living Room – Drop-In safe space for youth to hang out, build community, find support, and have fun – weekly activities/groups – Gladstone, OR – She Bop – “Adult” store in PDX but offers binder fitting appointments after hours for teens accompanied by a guardian.

Eugene

TransPonder – Non-profit support, resource, and educational organization for the transgender/gender diverse community and its allies, based in Eugene. TransPonder offers several monthly meetings, special events for trans/gender diverse folks and allies, inclusivity trainings, and consultation services to professional organizations and businesses.

LGBTQ Youth Group – 541-682-5373 – Ages 13-18 – Weekly drop in support and referral Fridays 4-6.

TransParent Support Group – uoteachout@uoregon.edu – Monthly support group meetings – 3rd Thursday of every month at 7:30 at the Unitarian Universalist.

Church of Eugene.

Queer Eugene – Our mission is to organize support, resources, and community for queer folks in the state currently known as Oregon. We will do this through events, information gathering and sharing, and one day have a physical space to develop a queer community center.

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Empowered Consumerism

Jaclyn Baker

By: Christina Bein

I’ve been hearing, a lot more often than I’d like, the phrases, “What I do doesn’t matter” or “What can I do to help? I’m just one person.” At times, I’ve found myself saying these phrases as well. On a macro level, it can be hard to see how one person can make a difference. It feels like a drop of water in a large bucket. 

I remind myself that when feeling this way, I have to bring my thoughts back to, “What is in my control to do?” When asked in this manner, it helps to reframe my thoughts towards looking at the possibilities of how I can make change or influence in direct ways. This can be through what I watch, the information I share with others, what I promote via brands I support, what I put my money towards, etc.

In a time where companies are often merging or being bought out by bigger ones, it can be confusing to know where or to whom your dollar may be supporting. 

To the best of my ability, I try to stay conscientious of what my hard-earned money is supporting. This is how I find empowerment in what I support when it feels like greater state or world issues are overwhelming and disempowering. In this small way of knowing where my dollar goes, it’s a direct way to feel influence, a way to feel direct impact.

Have you seen signs that say, “Buy local”? I used to think that supporting my local burger joint would help a mom-and-pop dream, then I learned that the expanded brick and mortar was made possible when a large corporation bought this business. In further research of this larger corporation, I learned that it provided mass donations to political parties and causes that are in conflict with my own values. 

In a time where I felt too small to help with world problems, this felt terrible. I have progressively worked towards keeping up-to-date with being aware and researching if certain businesses or companies are in alignment with my values. It’s not always easy to know. It’s never truly perfect, but being in community with others who have the same interest helps with staying informed.

To find empowerment in supporting local businesses or companies that are aligned with your values, check out these applications were created to support easier access to this information. Let us know if there are any resources you really love using for this purpose!

Boycat: Their mission is to support ethical shopping choices to better the planet

Truvalyou: Their mission is to help you support brands that are aligned with your values

Buycott: Uses universal product codes to let consumers know about what their money is supporting. Their motto is “Vote with your Wallet”

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Juneteenth is an Oregon State Holiday

Jaclyn Baker

By: Tanya Kramer

On June 1, 2021, the Oregon Senate passed House Bill 2168. This State Bill makes Juneteenth an official state holiday on every June 19th starting in 2022. 

This Bill acknowledges Oregon’s racist roots, the freedom of slaves, and celebrates Black Americans’ accomplishments both in our history as well as the present day.

Juneteenth is a historical marker of when the last slaves received the news that the Emancipation Proclamation was signed and every slave was informed of their freedom, on June 19, 1865. On this date, Union General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas to provide the news of freedom to more than 250,000 enslaved African Americans in Texas The House Bill 2168 recognizes Clara Peoples as key to Oregon recognizing Juneteenth. 

Clara Peoples, sometimes referred to as the “Mother of Juneteenth”, was from Moskogee, Oklahoma. She came to Vanport, Oregon to work in the town’s shipyards. She was surprised to learn from her Black co-workers that many of them had never heard of Juneteenth. 

On June 19, 1945, Clara Peoples hosted one of the Portland area’s first Juneteenth picnics for hundreds of shipyard employees. Over the years she continued to find ways to celebrate Juneteenth and in 1972, Peoples and another person named Ora Lee Green organized Portland’s first Juneteenth parade and public celebration, which has continued ever since. 

Peoples passed away at the age of 89 on October 5, 2015. However, her work continues with her family. Her niece took over the Juneteenth planning in 2011 and her granddaughter has continued this work since 2015. The yearly parade was renamed in 2015, the Clara Peoples Freedom Parade in her memory and honor. The “Juneteenth Oregon” Non-profit was established to carry on Clara Peoples passion and legacy to always embrace this important history.

To learn more about how to enjoy this historical Clara Peoples Freedom Parade for Juneteenth in 2024. Click on this link for more information.

As Oregon Senator Lew Frederick said during his Oregon Senate signing of the bill, “Celebrating Juneteenth will help each of us remember all that we can and must do to ensure a more just Future.”

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Institutional Betrayal

Jaclyn Baker

By: Betsy Pownall

Institutional betrayal is a term that refers to a betrayal of trust or harm by an organization or institution upon the individuals it is responsible for. It can occur at work, school, religious institutions, or any organization. UO Professor Psychology Emeritus Jennifer Freyd developed the theory and defined it as “a wrong perpetrated by an institution upon an individual dependent on that institution”.

Institutional betrayal can take several forms that include:

Negligence

Negligence or failure to prevent abuse is one of the most common forms of institutional betrayal. For example: when a school fails to address bullying or harassment which can deeply affect a student’s sense of self.

Punishing Victims and Whistleblowers

Institutions that take action against individuals who report wrongdoing or abuse perpetuate a culture of silence and fear within the organization. This behavior can range from victim-blaming to firing, retaliating, and pressing charges against employees who speak out about unethical practices.

Cover-ups

Institutional betrayal can involve efforts to cover up wrongdoing to protect the institution’s reputation at the expense of the victim. For example: property owners living near toxic landfills prior to them being labeled a Superfund Site, such as Rocky Flats Plant in Boulder, Colorado, or the Love Canal Niagara Falls, NY.

Failure to Respond Adequately

If an organization doesn’t respond promptly to allegations of wrongdoing or abuse, it can make individuals feel betrayed. Inadequate responses could involve ignoring complaints, skipping investigations, and giving minimal assistance.

Normalizing Abusive Content

This includes institutions downplaying or ignoring abusive behavior or practices, making them seem acceptable or routine, which will create a toxic environment. For example: the abuse that has occurred within religious organizations in the name of god.

Some general characteristics make institutions vulnerable to institutional betrayal. These characteristics include:

  • Membership requirements: a clearly defined group with strict requirements for membership often precedes institutional betrayal, as conformity is valued and members have the potential to self-police.
  • Prestige: When institutions or their leaders play an elevated role in the community, their potential to perpetrate abuse may be deeply hidden. Leaders may lead with an assumption of trust and dependency which can be problematic when abuse is occurring, as to report the abuse would mean breaking an important relationship
  • Priorities: If Performance and reputation are valued over the well-being of members, the potential for abuse and the cover-up of abuse is high. Institutions may emphasize “maintaining appearances” above all else.
  • Institutional Denial: This is best described when an institution has had allegations of abuse waged against it and it  “others” the victims, casting doubt on the truthfulness of the allegations of abuse.

Coping with institutional betrayal can be challenging. Here are some strategies:

  1. Seek support
  2. Tell your story
  3. Advocate for change: many survivors become advocates for change to prevent future abuse from happening.
  4. Self-care
  5. Legal recourse: consulting with a lawyer can help victims explore their rights and choices

The impact of institutional betrayal can be deep and long-lasting to the individual. It can cause emotional distress, mental health issues, a diminished sense of trust in the individual, and social anxiety. 

Advocating for change and holding others accountable can give individuals a sense of agency and empowerment and has the potential of restoring trust in institutions that are meant to protect and serve others.

The Center for Institutional Courage (CIC), founded by Jennifer Freyd, PhD in January 2020, is a non-profit dedicated to research and education about institutional betrayal and how to counter it through institutional courage. CIC believes, “courage sees a figure where our institutions act courageously: with accountability, with transparency, actively seeking justice, and making changes where needed despite unpleasantness, risk, and short-term costs”.

Sources: 

“What is Institutional Betrayal and How can it Affect You?” (2023) ImPossible Psychological Services. 

 Center for Institutional Courage, https://www.institutionalcourage.org/

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Elder Abuse Awareness

Jaclyn Baker

By: Betsy Pownall

Elder abuse (age 65 and older) includes physical, emotional, sexual harm, as well as financial exploitation and neglect by others, typically by their care providers. More than half a million reports are made in the United States, with millions of cases going unreported.

Elder abuse generally occurs in the senior’s home or institutional setting. If you suspect an elderly person is at risk from neglect, physical or emotional abuse, or being financially preyed upon by someone, it is important to speak up. Here is a list of warning signs, risk factors, and how to report a problem.

Warning Signs: 

  1. Signs of physical aggression such as black eyes, bruising, and physical injury.
  2. Emotional abuse by care providers such as yelling, name-calling, ridicule, blaming, ignoring, etc.
  3. Financial exploitation such as significant withdrawals from the elder’s accounts, sudden change in financial condition, items or cash missing from the senior’s household, changes in will, power of attorney, titles and policies, suspicious ATM withdrawals, additional names added to credit cards.
  4. Healthcare fraud such as duplicate billing, evidence of over or under-medication, evidence of inadequate care after medical bills are paid in full, and problems with care facilities (poorly trained staff, crowding, insufficiently staffed, inadequate answers to questions).

Risk Factors:

  1. Depression, substance abuse, burn-out, and isolation on the part of the caregiver.
  2. Intensity of elderly person’s illness or dementia.
  3. Social isolation — elder and caregiver are alone, together, most of the time.
  4. Elder’s history as an abusive parent or spouse, history of domestic violence.
  5. Elder’s own use of verbal or physical aggression

Prevention Tips for the Caregiver:

  1. Take care of yourself and get adequate rest.
  2. Seek help for depression and social isolation.
  3. Seek help for anger management.
  4. Get respite care for the elderly.

Prevention Tips for the Neighbor:

  1. Call and visit, check in with the elders.
  2. Offer to give the care provider a break.
  3. Monitor medications to make sure the amounts taken correspond with prescription.
  4. Check bank accounts and credit card statements to check on potential unauthorized transactions.
  5. Educate yourself around signs of abuse and neglect and report anything suspicious.

Reporting:

  1. If you are a senior experiencing abuse, tell at least one person you trust: your doctor, a friend, a family member. Or call the helplines listed below.
  2. If you witness abuse of an elder, make a report, and continue making reports as you witness abuse. The more information you provide the better chance the elderly person will get the help they need.
  3. Don’t confront the abuse yourself, talk with family members, and make reports. The earlier you intervene, the better the outcome may be.

Hotlines/Resources: 

United States: 1-800-677-1116 (Eldercare Locator) or find local resources at the National Center on Elder Abuse.

State of Oregon: 855-503-SAFE (7233) or 911 if you need immediate emergency assistance

Portland area: Multnomah County Aging & Disability Services: 503-988-4450; 3646 after hours

Eugene/Springfield/Lane County: Lane County Abuse Reporting & Adult Protective Services: 541-682-4140 or toll free 800-441-4038

Oregon Ombudsman: The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is a state agency that serves long-term care facility residents (assisted living, memory care, etc)  through complaint investigation, resolution and advocacy in resident care. 

Their mission is to protect individual rights and quality of life, to improve care, and promote the dignity of residents in Oregon’s licensed long-term care facilities. 

Contact: 800-522-2602 or 503-378-6533; ltco.info@rights.oregon.gov

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Shifting Your State of Mind

Jaclyn Baker

Our state of mind plays a pivotal role in how we perceive and interact with the world around us. 

You can learn to optimize your state of mind to suit the situations and challenges you face.

 Here are a few strategies to help you make this shift:

Mindfulness and Meditation: Practicing mindfulness or meditation can help you become more aware of your current state of mind and learn to shift it intentionally. These practices foster a sense of presence and awareness, allowing you to recognize when you’re falling into a narrow mindset and gently guide yourself back to a broader perspective.

Exposure to New Experiences: Stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things can naturally broaden your state of mind. Whether it’s learning a new skill, visiting a new place, or meeting new people, each new experience adds to your repertoire of knowledge and helps shift your perspective.

Gratitude Practice: Regularly acknowledging and appreciating the positive aspects of your life can foster a broader, more positive state of mind. Gratitude helps shift your focus from what’s lacking to what’s abundant, encouraging a more expansive and optimistic outlook.

By actively working to broaden your mental perspective, you can enhance your creativity, improve your mood, and become more open to new experiences.

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How to Celebrate And Enjoy Your Achievements

Jaclyn Baker
,

Achieving a goal is a wonderful feeling, but often we move quickly to the next task without truly appreciating our hard work and success. Taking the time to savor your accomplishments is vital for maintaining motivation and a positive mindset. Here are some strategies to help you celebrate and enjoy your achievements:

Reflect on Your Accomplishments

The first step in savoring your accomplishments is to reflect on them. Take some time to think about what you’ve achieved, how you did it, and what challenges you overcame. Journaling can be a great tool for this—write down the steps you took, the skills you utilized, and the obstacles you surmounted. Reflecting in this way not only helps you appreciate your hard work but also reinforces the lessons learned, setting you up for future successes.

Share Your Successes with Others

Sharing your accomplishments with friends, family, or colleagues can enhance your sense of achievement. When you talk about your successes, you relive the positive emotions associated with them and receive validation from others. This can be as simple as having a celebratory dinner, posting on social media, or discussing your achievements in a team meeting. The support and recognition from others can significantly boost your morale and encourage you to strive for more.

Reward Yourself

Giving yourself a reward for your hard work is an excellent way to savor your accomplishments. The reward doesn’t have to be extravagant; it just needs to be something that brings you joy and makes you feel appreciated. It could be a day off, a favorite treat, a new book, or even a small gift to yourself. Rewards help reinforce positive behavior and make the hard work feel worth it, motivating you to set and achieve more goals.

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Let’s Empower Self-Empathy

Jaclyn Baker

Cultivating self-empathy can be a transformative practice. Here are powerful tips to help you nurture and empower self-empathy:

Treat Yourself with Kindness

Imagine the kindness you extend to others—now, direct that same compassion towards yourself. Recognize your worth and treat yourself with the same gentleness and understanding you offer friends and loved ones.

Practice Self-Compassion During Hard Times

During difficult times, it’s natural to experience feelings of blame and shame. Instead, practice self-compassion. Acknowledge your struggles without judgment and offer yourself the same comfort you would give a friend facing similar challenges.

Set Respectful Boundaries

Healthy boundaries are essential for maintaining self-empathy. Learn to recognize and set boundaries with behavior that doesn’t serve your well-being. Respecting your limits is a powerful act of self-love.

Surround Yourself with Positive People

Give yourself permission to be around supportive, positive people. Their encouragement and positivity can significantly influence your self-perception and help you cultivate a more empathetic relationship with yourself.

Celebrate Your Achievements

Be happy with yourself when you do things well. Acknowledge your accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem. Celebrating your successes fosters a positive self-image and reinforces your ability to empathize with yourself.

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The Impact of War on Children

Jaclyn Baker
,

By: Betsy Pownall

Prolonged exposure to war, living in areas of high conflict, and forced migration create a high risk for children in their mental and physical health. Many children are thrown into a state of “toxic stress” which could impact them for life if left untreated. Here are some ways children are affected:

Anxiety, loneliness, and insecurity: many children in war zones have lost their homes, been displaced from their neighborhoods, and have had to leave their friends and families. Children where this has occurred face high rates of depression and anxiety. Areas where there are repeated attacks will lead to children living in constant fear which leaves them profoundly worried for their safety and the safety of those around them.

Emotional Withdrawal: when exposed to a high degree of conflict, children may become desensitized and emotionally numb. They may imitate the aggressive behavior they witness, and consider violence as normal. Their ability to create and sustain relationships can be negatively impacted.

Aggression: children growing up with violence and armed conflict in their environment, may show aggression and withdrawal. They may start fighting and bullying other children.

Psychosomatic Symptoms: living in areas of high conflict may exhibit high levels of stress in children’s bodies, such as headaches, chest aches, difficulty breathing, and, at times, loss of movement in their arms and legs. Many children will have difficulty speaking, may begin stuttering, and some may experience partial amnesia.

Self-Harm: if a child sees no way out, they may try to escape their surroundings by using drugs, alcohol, self-harm, and suicide.

It is important to keep in mind that children are responding in a healthy way to a dangerous, pathological situation and that there can be wide differences in how children respond to the same thing. 

Interventions for children of violence need to provide basic needs such as safety, security, shelter, and continuity of care by a family member or loved one. 

As a child’s basic needs are met, psychological first aid should focus on reducing the post-trauma distress. Eight core actions need to be taken: contact and engagement, safety and comfort, stabilization, information gathering, practical assistance, connection with social supports, information on coping support, and connection with collaborative services. 

Building back ‘the normal’ within the abnormal is important, such as instituting a schedule and daily routine, schooling if possible, opportunities to play and socialize, and providing opportunities to express themselves and process emotions and memories. Supporting children also means supporting parents so they can care for their children. Studies have shown that parents tend to show less warmth and more harshness toward their children when they have been exposed to war. Helping parents maintain warm relationships with their children might foster healthy adjustment in their children.

War and military aggression violate children’s basic human rights, can have a huge impact on their development, and their physical and mental health, and can have long-term consequences. The experience of war and conflict for children runs diametrically opposed to their developmental needs and their right to grow up in a safe, predictable environment. 

Healing from chronic stress does not, generally, happen naturally. It will be the work of the community, the government, and the world to help children exposed to violence and war.

References: 

“5 Ways Conflict Impacts Children’s Mental Health”; Save the Children.

Catani, C. Mental Health of Children Living in War Zones: a risk and protection perspective. World Psychiatry, 2018 Feb; 17(1) 104-105.

BĂŒrgin, D., Anagnostopoulos, D, ESCAP, Vitiello, B, et al. Impact of War and Forced Displacement on children’s mental health — multilevel, needs-oriented, and trauma-informed approaches. Eur. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 2022; 31(6) 845-853.


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Mental Health Resources

Jaclyn Baker

By: Claire Butcher

Mental health is a fundamental aspect in our well-being – influencing our functioning, relationships, and how we interact with the world. Whether it’s large-scale stressors or interpersonal struggles causing distress, it’s important to have the resources to help us manage difficult moments.  Below you will find some helpful organizations to help you through specific challenges. 

Important to note – these resources are not replacements for emergency services. If you or a loved one require immediate mental health care, please contact 911 and clarify there is a psychiatric emergency, or go to your nearest emergency room/psychiatric urgent care. Differentiating between a mental health crisis and an emergency.

National Hotlines:

Suicide and Crisis Hotlines 

  • Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
    • Call or text 988
    • For TTY users: dial 711 then 988
    • Spanish options for texting and chatting online
  • Trevor Project
    • Call 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 678-678
  • Friends for Survival – grief help for those who have lost someone to suicide
    • Call 916-392-0664
    • Offer monthly group meetings for support

Domestic Violence / Sexual Assault 

Substance Use 

Anxiety

Youth Lines

Veterans

Seniors – Oregon only

LGBTQIA+

Racial Prejudice/Oppression

  • Racial Equity Support Line – support for those suffering from emotional impacts of racism
    • Call 503-575-3764
    • Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-7pm 

Oregon-Based Crisis Resources:

Eugene

  • CAHOOTS – mobile crisis in-person intervention team (available 24/7)
    • CAHOOTS Eugene: 541-682-5111
    • CAHOOTS Springfield: 541-726-3714
  • WhiteBird Clinic Crisis Line: 541-687-4000
  • Looking Glass Crisis Line – for parents of youth in crisis
    • (541) 689-3111

Portland

  • Multnomah County Crisis Line: 503-988-4888
  • Clackamas County Crisis Line: 503-655-8585
  • Project Respond – triage portal for mobile crisis in-person response
    • 503-988-4888

Bend

  • Deschutes County 24-Hour Crisis Line: 541-322-7500 ext. #9
  • Deschutes County Stabilization Center:
    • Walk-in Appointments located at 63311 NE Jamison Street in Bend
    • Non-emergency Office Line: 541-585-7210
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Mental Health in Aging / Older Adults

Jaclyn Baker

By: Tanya Kramer

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the world’s population is aging fast.

  • In 2020, there were 1 billion people who are 60 years or older
  • In 2030, it is believe that this number will increase to 1.4 billion
  • By 2050, it is believed that this number will increase to 2.1 billion
  • The number of persons aged 80 years or older is expected to triple between 2020 to 2050 (hitting over 425 million people)

There are many benefits to having a large aging population, since these individuals often give back to their family and community through volunteering and acts of service. However, many of these individuals may need additional support due to mental health conditions or physical/medical limitations. 

Mental health in aging adults is a Public Health Issue that must be addressed. This article will focus on the following topics around mental health for aging populations:

  • What external factors impact mental health as someone ages?
  • What are the key mental health concerns?
  • What are suggestions for the aging population and those that love them to improve quality of life?
  • Resources for the Aging Population and their Caregivers

   What external factors impact mental health as someone ages?

  • Bereavement / Grief – losing loved ones occurs more often
  • Serious illness
  • Drop in income
  • Reduced sense of purpose
  • Being impacted by “ageism”
  • Physical limitations / chronic illnesses / pain
  • Abuse (physical, verbal, psychological, sexual, or financial)
  • Lack of access to support
  • Loneliness / Social Isolation
  • Needing long term care

  Key Mental Health Concerns:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Substance Abuse
  • Suicide (Global Health Estimates show around a quarter of deaths by suicide occur by those age 60 or older)
  • Dementia / Alzheimer’s Disease / Cognitive Decline
  • Personality Disorders that already exist are susceptible to worsening with age

  Suggestions for the Aging Population:

  • Physical / Social environments that support well-being
  • Environments that enable people to do what is important to them (despite losses in capacity)
  • Safe person to discuss emotions – “How are you feeling right now?”
  • Stress management skills and resources
  • Financial planning to support long lives
  • Resources to access needs such as groceries, medical appointments, and important events
  • Social and Emotional Support (Family, Friends, caregivers, Therapists, Community, etc.)
  • Experiencing Life Satisfaction as a Whole
  • Maintain a Routine including a balanced diet, movement/exercise / yoga, and activities that bring joy

Identifying Gratitude / Moments of Delight / Thankful Statements:

  • Physically active to the extent the body can
  • Reduction of harmful things such as smoking, alcohol, and drugs
  • Accessing health and social programs to keep individuals engaged in their community
  • Social connections
  • Meaningful social activities
  • Counseling and Support Groups for aging experiences
  • Social Skills Training
  • Occupational Therapy as needed when adapting to new limitations
  • Creative Art outlets or groups
  • Educational opportunities / Stay active intellectually by learning new things
  • Improve sleep by setting and maintaining good sleep habits
  • Volunteering for programs
  • Leisure / Fun activities
  • Support for carers of aging individuals
  • Medication management for mental health
  • County Resources often have an Aging and Disability Department that can connect individuals to resources in their community…and these services are often free
  • Get help in a Crisis….You do not need to navigate this alone.

Resources for the Aging Population and their Caregivers:

University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center – PEARLS Toolkit 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – Resources for Older Adults 

Emotional Well Being Videos 

Mass General Brigham McLean – Everything You Need to Know About Older Adult Mental Health 

Family Caregiver Alliance 



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