Mental Health Solutions Discussed With Area Seniors

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

Mental health tips, helps and solutions were offered at the Mesquite Senior Center on Wednesday, Sept. 22 at the monthly Lunch & Learn Program.

This month’s event featured representatives from the Senior Life Solutions center, a local service offered in affiliation with Mesa View Hospital. Representatives of the program were in attendance to talk about beneficial health information and treatment available. The presentations were done in an entertaining and humorous way.

Three Senior Life Solutions staff members were present incluing Riley Hunzeker, RN, Program Director; Marian Knudsen, licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Program Therapist; and Doris Baeza, Office Patient Coordinator.

Hunzeker spoke first and informed the twenty-two attendees on the purpose of the Senior Life Solutions Program. “Senior Life Solutions is an outpatient group therapy program designed to meet the unique needs of senior adults with symptoms of age-related depression or anxiety, dealing with life transitions, a recent health diagnosis, or the loss of a loved one.” explained Hunzeker.

Knudsen described the different mental stages that people experience in depression. “We all go through them, me included,” she said.
“Causes of depression are biology, psychology and environment,” Knudsen said.

She talked about life conditions that trigger these different types of depression and she explained symptoms of each condition and how to recognize it in oneself or one’s loved ones. She also talked about treatment methods for different types of depression.

“With the exception of bi-polar disorder, we believe you can treat the symptoms yourself with the professional help and guidance we can provide,” Knudsen said.

Knudsen recommended that bi-polar disorder patients seek help from a licensed therapist.
Knudsen held the audience attention with her humor and she answered questions.
Knudsen said that the Senior Life Solutions center is open Tuesday through Thursday for drop-ins. The office also makes appointments over the phone.

Group sessions are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Knudsen added.
“The therapy services are covered by Medicare and, more recently, Medicaid,” she said.
Knudsen said that the center can also provide mental health support for caregivers.

The center is located at 1301 Bertha Howe Ave. Suite #7, directly behind the hospital. For further information or to schedule an appointment, call 702-345-4373

“We would like to send a big thank you to everyone involved in making this possible and for their hard work to give us the opportunity to share the ways we help improve the quality of life for the patients we serve,” Hunzeker concluded.