Deaths by suicide across the Yampa Valley fell slightly during 2023 compared to previous years and, at the same time, almost 230 citizens took advantage of free professional counseling services through the nonprofit Reaching Everyone Preventing Suicide.
Authorities are investigating the deaths of a 45-year-old man and two children in Phippsburg as a murder-suicide. However, residents also may be shaken to learn that two Routt County senior citizens in their late 70s or early 80s died by suicide in early January.
Experts say suicide rates among elderly citizens have inched upward within the past decade because many of the same issues that challenge all adults struggling with suicide ideation may be exacerbated among senior citizens. Older adults may suffer more from chronic physical health issues or pain, declining function of their senses, sleep concerns, social isolation and disconnection, loss of friends or a spouse, shrinking social circles, a lack of ability to feel joy or purpose, disability or loneliness.
“Suicide in the elderly population is more common than most people think,” noted Dr. David Conklin, psychiatrist and chief medical officer at Mind Springs Health in Glenwood Springs. “It continues to be an underrecognized problem, and we have fewer awareness campaigns than in other age groups.”
“There’s a lot of agism at play in research, recognition and understanding, so there is an under recognition of age as a risk factor for suicide,” Conklin said. “Death from suicide in older adults is a growing problem.”
Conklin noted that when the general functional capabilities of elderly adults decline, their risk for suicide increases.
Adults age 75 and older have one of the highest suicide rates at 20.3 suicides per 100,000 people, and men age 75 and older have the highest rate at 42.2 per 100,000 people compared to other age groups, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Statistics show that suicide was the second leading cause of death in 2020 among individuals ages 10-14 and 25-34, and the third leading cause of death for individuals ages 15-24, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Suicide rates increased approximately 36% from 2000 to 2021 with 48,183 deaths in 2021, according to the CDC. The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher. In 2021, an estimated 12.3 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million planned a suicide attempt and 1.7 million attempted suicide, according to the CDC.
Mindy Marriott, executive director of REPS, noted that, as of Wednesday, the community has experienced three suicides in Routt County and one in Moffat County, a male in his 20s.
Tom Gangel, counselor and regional director at Mind Springs Health, said it is a false narrative that depression and aging go hand-in-hand. Depression may be harder to recognize in older adults but is still very treatable, Gangel said.
Gangel said elderly individuals may suffer from “the lack of ability to feel joy and the loss of feeling of usefulness, realizing I’m not sure if I have a meaning anymore.”
April Sigman, executive director at the Routt County Council on Aging, encouraged senior adults to find activities that fit their abilities. These could include offerings through the council such as Tai Chi, arthritis exercise fitness or yoga classes, Eat and Greet luncheons, bingo and bridge games, Mahjong meet-ups, learning to knit or crochet, day trips and Tea and Talk afternoons. Sigman encourages seniors to volunteer at their capacity levels, anything from reading stories at the library to teaching someone a recipe or delivering Meals on Wheels.
“Social isolation is detrimental to anyone’s mental and physical health, and it is so important to stay connected with your community and reach out when you need help to friends, family, community groups,” Sigman said.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Meredith Van Ness, who has a practice in Steamboat Springs, notes that SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, may further complicate mental issues for seniors.
“Supporting elderly individuals experiencing SAD or general sadness involves a combination of empathetic understanding and practical interventions,” Van Ness said.
The social worker suggested seniors partake in natural sunlight exposure for 10 minutes outside a day or even sit near windows, or consider the use of light therapy lamps that mimic natural sunlight in the mornings.
Van Ness encourages seniors to combat isolation with regular social interactions, engage in regular physical activity suitable for their ability levels, eat a well-balanced diet with sufficient nutrients, engage in hobbies and activities, practice meditation or deep breathing exercises to help manage stress and invite family and friends for regular check-ins and conversations.
Van Ness suggests seniors establish a consistent daily routine because “predictability can provide a sense of stability and control, which is beneficial for mental health.”
If sadness persists or worsens, experts encourage seniors to seek support from mental health professionals.
Area mental health professionals acknowledge that the Yampa Valley region does not have sufficient counselors that specifically specialize in geriatric mental health. Yet Conklin said the best predictor of success for mental health counseling is a strong connection or therapeutic alliance between a patient and counselor. Conklin said Mind Springs Health, with offices in Steamboat and Craig, has a wide variety of counselors and accepts most Medicare plans. New patients generally can schedule an appointment within five days.
The behavioral health providers at the Northwest Colorado Health community health centers in Steamboat and Craig see patients of all ages including older adults.
Conklin noted that treatment with antidepressants is shown to decrease the risk for suicide with older adults who are diagnosed with depression.
The psychiatrist encouraged seniors to continue regular check-ups with their primary care physician, which can provide a key intervention for mental health concerns. Maintaining the highest level of function and physical health is important for seniors, he said.
The first step for family members, friends or neighbors to help a senior who might be struggling is checking in, experts say.
Michael Barber, Colorado area director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, lost his grandmother to suicide eight years ago. He noted that reaching out to someone struggling may require several attempts.
“If they are not receptive on the first time, try again, just so they know there is somebody out there who cares about them and loves them,” Barber said. “Keep reaching out and keep connecting with people.”
“Loneliness and social disconnection are huge problems in older adults,” Conklin said. “Reaching out and making connection to older adults in your life may save their life. We can’t break down the stigma unless we talk about it and ask others how they are doing.”
Rachel Carter is a health and wellness expert dedicated to helping readers lead healthier lives. With a background in nutrition, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being.
