Enhanced Care for Older Adults with Anxiety and Depression

• By: Catherine Thurston, LCSW Service Program for Older People (SPOP)
• September 29th, 2025
• anxiety, caregiver distress, community-based mental healthcare, coping skills, depression, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, enhanced care model, Fall 2025 Issue, older adults
• 810    0

Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common mental health conditions experienced by older adults. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 20% of people aged 60 and older live with anxiety or depression, a number I expect may be a good bit higher given that older adults are...

Addressing Suicidality in Older Adults: A Community-Based Approach

• By: Catherine Thurston, LCSW Service Program for Older People (SPOP)
• January 14th, 2025
• addiction treatment, aging, community, mental health, older adults, suicide prevention, support programs, therapy, Winter 2025 Issue
• 1143    0

In a review of data around suicidality, we see that older adults are highly vulnerable. The CDC reports that adults over age 45 account for more than 50% of deaths by suicide in the US, with the risk of suicide increasing with age. The national rate of suicide is highest among men over age 85 (45.9...

Behavioral Healthcare for Older Adults: It’s All About Resiliency

• By: Catherine Thurston, LCSW Service Program for Older People (SPOP)
• July 29th, 2024
• aging adults, behavioral health, community, Summer 2024 Issue
• 1247    0

It is with great excitement that I step into the role of CEO of Service Program for Older People (SPOP), a position I assumed on July 1 following the retirement of our long-time CEO, Nancy Harvey. It is a tremendous honor to be entrusted with the leadership of an agency that has transformed the...