Aging is a natural process each of us will experience. It involves many changes that can affect our mental health both positively and negatively. Many will embrace their senior years, finding it very fulfilling with new opportunities, activities, and hobbies that were not possible while working and having family responsibilities. For others these changes can lead to feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety, dependency on others, and even thoughts of suicide.

Mental health problems may be related to physical, social, and economic changes that sometimes occur as an individual ages. Physical illness, immobility, chronic pain, and cognitive/sensory impairments can make it very difficult for older adults to engage in the activities they once enjoyed. In addition, life changes such as retirement, widowhood, and death of long-time friends, can lead to a loss of purpose in life, emotional/social isolation, and added stress. For many of us who have older loved ones, it can mean new caregiving responsibilities, which could be stressful, and impact on our own quality of life.

While many of these life changes are beyond our control, strategies can be developed to help maintain mental well-being in later years.

Here are some suggestions for you or someone you care about:

1) Start planning early for retirement. Develop a healthy lifestyle before retirement by being physically active on a daily basis, eating well, drinking responsibly, not smoking, and getting an annual medical examination.

2) Keep a positive attitude about the physical changes you will experience as you age. You may still be able to do the things you love, but you might have to slow down and pace yourself.

3) Look to family and friends for emotional support to help you through the loss of a loved one.

4) Develop and maintain new social networks of friends and activities to help offset the feelings of loneliness.

5) Learn to recognize the signs of depression (loss of appetite, weight, energy, or motivation, lower quality of sleep, or thoughts of suicide).

According to the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University, an individual should seek professional help if they experience at least three to four of the signs and symptoms of depression for more than two weeks.

Visit the Canadian Mental Health Association's website for more information.