ASK THE EXPERTS ABOUT
General LGBT Aging Issues


Q Spotting depression?
  Mar 21, 2008

How do you know if an older friend or relative is depressed?


A Response from Dr. Kooden

Hi,

You have asked a very general question and I have a number of thoughts about it. If this is just a vague question about depression, then there are some general answers. First of all, talk to the person and find out what is going on in their life. Is it a physically induced depression in which they can do nothing, have no energy and sit around feeling hopeless? Or is this sadness about a specific event or situation in their life or is it mourning? Get a handle on what you are calling "depressed" and see where it fits into their life.

If the question is about a person you know, then ask some questions. It is easy to look on and say someone is depressed by looking at some obvious behaviors. Maybe the response is totally appropriate to what is going on in their life and they need to take an action. Maybe their response is to a specific and they need time to have this reaction and work through it.

In other words, you need to get more information after asking what is it that is upsetting you about this person and causing you to give a label to this other person's behavior. Ask around and see if others see what you are seeing and reacting to. Don't make an assumption about another person and then act on that assumption without going deeper.

Best wishes, Harold


 

 



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