Behavioral Health
Behavioral health is the promotion of mental health and well-being, the treatment of mental and substance use disorders, and the support of those who experience or are in recovery from these conditions. It is important for senior nutrition programs to better understand behavioral health conditions in order to best support their participants.
Briefs
- Depression is Not a Normal Part of Growing Older— Information on signs of depression in older adults (CDC, 2024)
- Older Adults and Mental Health— Warning signs of mental health disorders and additional resources (National Institute of Mental Health)
- Supporting the Mental Health Needs of Older Adults— Brief outlining evidence-based practices and strategies for states to implement and expand these practices (SAMHSA, 2024)
- Drinking Alcohol and Healthy Aging: Know Your Limits— Information and recommendations on limiting alcohol consumption in older adults (National Council on Aging, 2024)
- The Impact of the Opioid Epidemic on the Aging Services Network and the Older Adults They Serve— Recommendations based on survey findings about how the opioid epidemic has impacted community-based services (National Council on Aging, 2019)
- TIP 26: Treating Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults— Information on how to identify, manage, and prevent substance misuse in older adults (SAMHSA)
Guides
- Social, Mental, Emotional Health Coloring Pages — Activity guide that can be utilized to enhance participants’ overall well-being (Nutrition and Aging Resource Center)
- Guided Imagery Relaxation — Activity guide with relaxation techniques through imagery to improve health and well-being (ACL)
- Assessing for Suicide in Community-Based Research — Tips (HOPE Lab at Georgia State University and the AgeWell Lab at Virginia Tech)
- Advancing Behavioral Health Programs for Older Adults — Report highlighting key programs designed to address behavioral health needs in older adults (National Council on Aging, 2024)
Tools & Toolkits
- Mental Health Month Outreach— Resources with information on finding support for mental health challenges (Mental Health America, 2025)
- Mental Health Resources for Staff— Screening tools and additional resources (Mental Health America, 2024)
- Mental Health Resources— Articles and resources supporting mental health and well-being among older adults (National Council on Aging)
- E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging— Community resources to support behavioral health in older adults and families
Presentations
- Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium (National Council on Aging)
- Food for Thought Dialogue (YouTube)— Dialogue on how nutrients affect mental well-being (nstitute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 2022)
- Opioid Crisis and the Aging Community— Webinar on recommendations for addressing the opioid epidemic (National Council on Aging, 2020)
- Saving Lives Literally (YouTube)— 15-minute video on research being done at Georgia State University to enhance social connectedness and decrease risk of suicide in older adults (Nutrition and Aging Resource Center, 2022)