Older men in the United States have been at growing risk. And then there are the dangers of guns, which older men are more likely to own — and which make suicide attempts more deadly. Being able to immediately connect someone to mental health care on the same site helps it become “normalized.”Chen agreed. “We’re not scary people — and mental health treatment doesn’t have to be a scary thing.”Then there are programs that might not look, at first glance, like mental health care. Velasquez, a recreation therapist, said that beyond the physical benefits, the regular meetings can ease isolation for older veterans.

Source: Los Angeles Times June 15, 2024 13:17 UTC