Older Adults and Mental Health

• Noticeable changes in mood, energy level, or appetite
• Feeling flat or having trouble feeling positive emotions
• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
• Difficulty concentrating, feeling restless, or on edge
• Increased worry or feeling stressed
• Anger, irritability, or aggressiveness
• Ongoing headaches, digestive issues, or pain
• Misuse of alcohol or drugs
• Sadness or hopelessness
• Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts
• Engaging in high-risk activities
• Obsessive thinking or compulsive behavior
• Thoughts or behaviors that interfere with work, family, or social life
• Engaging in thinking or behavior that is concerning to others
• Seeing, hearing, and feeling things that other people do not see, hear, or feel

Mental disorders can be treated: A primary care provider is a good place to start if you're looking for help. They can refer you to a qualified mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or clinical social worker, who can help you figure out next steps. Find tips for talking with a health care provider about your mental health.

You can learn more about getting help on the NIMH website. You can also learn about finding support  and locating mental health services in your area on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website. 

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline : The Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. Call or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. Support is also available via live chat . Para ayuda en español, llame al 988. 
• Veterans Crisis Line : This helpline is a free, confidential resource for veterans of all ages and circumstances. Call 988 then press 1; text 838255; or chat online  to connect with 24/7 support.
• Disaster Distress Hotline : This helpline from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides immediate crisis counseling for people experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. The helpline is free, multilingual, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call or text 1-800-985-5990.
• NIH Health Info Lines 

Featured health topics

• Anxiety Disorders
• Bipolar Disorder
• Coping with Traumatic Events
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Medications: Older Adults
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Psychosis
• Suicide Prevention

Featured brochures and fact sheets

Federal resources

• Depression and Aging : This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage describes signs of depression and how depression can be different for older adults.
• Healthy Aging : This U.S. Department of Health and Human Services webpage lists links to health resources and services for older adults.
• National Institute on Aging (NIA): Health Topics : NIA offers health information on various topics, including depression .
• Older Adult Mental Health : The National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus offers resources on aging and mental health (en español ).
• Resources for Older Adults : The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers publications and digital products for and about older adults.

Multimedia

• Mental Health and Older Adults Facebook Live Q&A: Learn about mental and emotional wellness in later life, signs and symptoms of depression, and ways to maintain and improve mental health.

Research resources

• NIMH Geriatrics and Aging Processes Research Branch: This NIMH branch supports programs of research, research mid-career development, and resource development in the etiology, pathophysiology, and course of mental disorders of late life; the relationships between aging and mental disorders; the treatment and recovery of persons with aging-related disorders; and the prevention of these disorders and their consequences.

Clinical trials are research studies that look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat diseases and conditions. The goal of clinical trials is to determine if a new test or treatment works and is safe. Although people may benefit from being part of a clinical trial, they should be aware that the primary purpose of a clinical trial is to gain new scientific knowledge so that others can be better helped in the future.

Researchers at NIMH and around the country conduct many studies with patients and healthy volunteers. We have new and better treatment options today because of what clinical trials have uncovered. Talk to a health care provider about clinical trials, their benefits and risks, and whether one is right for you.

To learn more or find a study, visit:

• NIMH’s Clinical Trials webpage: Information about participating in clinical trials

In addition, NIMH researchers are also studying mental disorders that affect older adults. To find studies being conducted at NIMH, visit Join a Study: Adults.

Our studies take place at the NIH Clinical Center  in Bethesda, Maryland, and require regular visits. If you don’t live nearby, you can find a clinical trial near you .

It is important for clinical trials to have participants of different ages, sexes, races, and ethnicities. When research involves a group of people who are similar, the findings may not apply to or benefit everyone. When clinical trials include diverse participants, the study results may have a much wider applicability.

Researchers need the participation of older adults in their clinical trials so that they can learn more about how new drugs, therapies, medical devices, surgical procedures, or tests will work for all people. For more information, check out National Institute on Aging’s What Are Clinical Trials and Studies?  tip sheet.

Last Reviewed: April 2024