MIDLIFE CRISIS - HELPING PATIENTS COPE WITH STRESS, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION

Midlife may be associated with changes and bosses, including declining health status, retirement, caregiving for aging parents, and unexpect ed responsibility for adult children or grandchildren. Suicide rates i ncrease with age. Depression and substance abuse are common but often under-recognized and undertreated. The primary care physician can prom ote healthy aging by appropriately diagnosing and treating midlife dep ression and substance abuse, making appropriate referrals for psychoth erapy, and utilizing the support and educational resources of communit y and national organizations.