Seniors' Guide to Mental Health
As you age, your body isn’t the only thing that benefits from a little extra care. Build mental strength and resilience in your golden years.
Getting help is easy
Whenever you think you might need it
Your senior years are a wonderful time. But social isolation, grief after losing close friends, and other factors can affect the way you think and feel. You don’t have to go it alone.
Your Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan plan includes behavioral health benefits like counseling and therapy for conditions like loneliness and depression. Best of all, you only pay your plan deductible, copay or coinsurance when you receive care in network. Your plan also offers a variety of resources that are completely free. We provide all the resources you need to strengthen your mental health at any age.
Crisis assistance
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
If your situation requires immediate assistance to prevent death or serious harm to yourself or others, please seek help at
your nearest emergency room or call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 lifeline or 1-800-273-8255.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 1-800-799-7233 for anonymous, confidential support 24/7.
Michigan-Based Crisis Care
We also have in-person crisis care options in many locations throughout the state. Learn more about our crisis centers
How exercise and diet can improve your mental health
Your physical and mental health work together, so when you give attention to one, the other can improve as well.
Living a healthy lifestyle with exercise, a healthy diet and plenty of sleep can improve your mental health. Focusing on your mental health can also improve your physical state and make you feel better.
Signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. Dementia, which can also interfere with a person’s daily life, is a symptom of several diseases and injuries.
They are both serious conditions that can reduce the quality of life, but knowing the signs and staying physically and mentally active can help delay their onset and help manage them.
Talk to your primary care physician
Your partner in seeking emotional well-being
If you're looking for an easy way to find counseling for older adults in Michigan, make an appointment with your PCP for a list of references. They may also have other options for managing conditions like anxiety in older adults, grief counseling and stress management.
Don’t have a PCP? You can log in to your Blue Cross member account to find one.
Maintaining relationships and healthy living
While a healthy lifestyle is important for your mental health, your social can make you feel better and improve it as well.
Spending time with those who make you happy and have similar interests and maintaining relationships with family and friends is just as important for your overall mood and contributes to an overall sense of well-being.
Senior webinar series
Join us for our Monday Senior Series, a series of 30-minute live discussions on senior-focused topic.
During the series, you'll find a different topic each week, all focused on ways seniors can improve their health and well-being.
Related guides
Guide
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and National Domestic Violence Hotline are independent companies, not affiliated with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
The information contained on this webpage is for educational purposes only. Nothing on this webpage is intended to be, nor should be used as or relied upon as, professional medical advice. Nothing contained on this webpage is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. For medical advice, or to receive medical diagnosis or treatment, consult with your healthcare provider.
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