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 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on signs of depression in older adults
- Older Adults and Mental Health— Warning signs of mental health disorders and additional resources from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Supporting the Mental Health Needs of Older Adults— Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) brief outlining evidence-based practices and strategies for states to implement and expand these practices
- Drinking Alcohol and Healthy Aging: Know Your Limits— Information and recommendations from the National Council on Aging (NCOA) on limiting alcohol consumption in older adults
- The Impact of the Opioid Epidemic on the Aging Services Network and the Older Adults They Serve— Recommendations from the National Council on Aging based on survey findings about how the opioid epidemic has impacted community-based services
- TIP 26: Treating Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults— Information from SAMHSA on how to identify, manage, and prevent substance misuse in older adults
Guides
- Social, Mental, Emotional Health Coloring Pages — Activity guide that can be utilized to enhance participants’ overall well-being
- Guided Imagery Relaxation — Activity guide with relaxation techniques through imagery to improve health and well-being
- Assessing for Suicide in Community-Based Research — Tips from the HOPE Lab at Georgia State University and the AgeWell Lab at Virginia Tech
- Equity Focused Suicide Prevention Resources for Older Adults— Resource from the E4 Center on suicide prevention in older adults
- Advancing Behavioral Health Programs for Older Adults — Report highlighting key programs designed to address behavioral health needs in older adults from the National Council on Aging
- Practical Guide for Implementing a Trauma-Informed Approach — Guide from SAMHSA provides implementation strategies for trauma-informed approaches
Tools & Toolkits
- Mental Health Month Outreach Toolkit— Resource from Mental Health America with information on finding support for mental health challenges
- BIPOC Mental Health Toolkit— Public education campaign from Mental Health America on addressing the mental health needs
- Mental Health Resources for Staff— Screening tools and additional resources from Mental Health America
- Mental Health Resources— Articles and resources from the National Council on Aging supporting mental health and well-being among older adults
- 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
- Food for Thought Dialogue (YouTube)— Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS) dialogue on how nutrients affect mental well-being
- Opioid Crisis and the Aging Community— National Council on Aging webinar on recommendations for addressing the opioid epidemic
- 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