The days of individuals with mental illness living in congregate housing and isolated from society are gone. While this was not a dignified existence, it provided that medical compliance and general healthcare were available to those unable to manage their lives on their own. It also reinforced society's fear of those with mental illness.

Today we see a near crisis as individuals age either with lifelong mental health disease or presentation of late-life mental illness or psychosis with or without dementia. Often individuals were able to be productive members of society even with mental illness through their adult years. They may or may not have been treated throughout their lifetime. They are often described as being a little different. They may have self-treated with alcohol or other mood-altering drugs for somatic complaints.

The senior population is not often comfortable with seeking out mental health care. Statistics suggest that 15 to 25 percent of seniors are suffering from mental illness. The highest suicide rate in the United States is in those over 65 years of age. When help is not sought, the outcomes can be deadly.

The mental health issues that are confronted can be treated or even cured. Depression is widespread in the elderly. It may also manifest with different symptoms that depression in young adults. If we are not watching and asking about it, depression may be missed. Depression may be situational, or it may be long-standing leading to decreased quality of life and isolation.

When individuals tell others that they have heart disease, kidney disease, cancer, liver disease or another organic condition due to body system failures others rally around. As a general rule, when the diagnosis of mental illness is disclosed the suffering person has no one to rally around and support them.

Mental illness is real. It is a real disease. It has real symptoms. It has real cures. It has real recurrence. It is painful. Please reach out to me if you are concerned about your loved one.