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

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

Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this forum in rendering medical, mental health, legal or other professional advice or services. If you have or suspect you may have a medical, mental health, legal or other problem that requires advice, consult your own caregiver, attorney or other qualified professional.

Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither SAGE nor any of the collaborating websites at which this forum is carried is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.

Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of SAGE or any of its collaborating sites. While neither SAGE nor its collaborating sites regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their messages.