HELEN

Piano and bench

The following story is excerpted from "The Golden Gift” in "Each Mind Matters/California’s Mental Health Movement” Alameda County Mental Health Services Act of 2014. Helen’s story illustrates that older adults may face depression or suicidality when facing grief related to the loss of friends, family, function or independence. However, her story also shows that help and support are available for seniors who are struggling in these ways.

Everyone sitting at the table in the Assisted Living Facility’s community library gazed in wonder at Helen’s vintage black and white photo. Helen’s daughter had encouraged her mother to share this cherished image with the other residents. The photo captured a 21-year old Helen, adorned in an evening gown, hands gliding across grand piano keys, as the orchestra played behind her and thousands in the theater listened.  “I was the top player in my class,” explained Helen, now age 65, who began playing piano at the age of five.  She studied music in high school and college, performing in front of enormous audiences, before moving to the United States and becoming a professional piano instructor.

Yet life for Helen hasn’t always been filled with high notes and smooth melodies. A few years ago, she attempted suicide and spent ten months in a mental health facility. After discharge, Helen began receiving services from Alameda County Behavioral Health’s Geriatric Assessment Response Team (GART). GART case manager Ann supported Helen’s mental wellness as she transitioned back into the community. GART’s mobile team of highly trained clinicians provides short-term case management, family support, and brief therapy to older adults age 60 and up who are struggling with serious mental health conditions.

Helen’s case manager Ann explains, “Suicide assessment and intervention are key to preventing suicide. Helen and I worked on stress management and relaxation techniques whenever negative feelings arose. And I helped her re-establish a sense of hopefulness.”  In addition to counseling and mental health services, Ann and Helen tackled daunting SSI and Medicare application forms during the 60 days they worked together, which relieved some of Helen’s financial stress and reduced her feelings of being overwhelmed.  Ann says, “It was a very complicated process because Helen was declined for SSI benefits twice, so we were on the phone a lot with Social Security.”  Helen says with gratitude, “Without Ann, I wouldn’t have known what to do.  She reviewed the letters and went to the Medicare office with me.”  Helen’s daughter agrees: “Ann was a lifesaver.”

Ann also taught Helen how to use public transportation. “I never rode BART before,” Helen says.  She needed BART to travel to Oakland and receive Alameda County Behavioral Health Services at a clinic where she receives counseling from people who understand her culture and speak her native language.  “At my age I had no excitement for new things,” says Helen, “I had to learn.”

Suicide Prevention Issue Guide

Title:  Older Adults and Suicide Prevention
Editors:  
Lillian Schaechner, Nancy Salamy, Mercedes Coleman, Claudia Landau, Wendy Zastawney, Cathy Spensley, Michele Burke, Michael Kessler, Al Gilbert, Wendy Peterson, Emily Hampshire
Last Revision Date:  1-23-20