MD Coalition on Mental Health & Aging

"One in five individuals is affected by mental health problems at some point during his or her life. Only one in four of these individuals ever receive treatment."

Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health, 1998

Established in 1994, the Maryland Coalition on Mental Health and Aging seeks to improve the care and treatment of older Marylanders with brain based disorders including mental illness, dementia and substance abuse through programs of education and advocacy.

Through advocacy activities, we strive to enlighten the public, professionals and law / policy makers as to the issues of importance to older adults and their caregivers suffering with, or vulnerable to, mental health disorders.

Advocacy and education initiatives of the Maryland Coalition on Mental Health and Aging have focused on, but are not limited to:

Providing training, education and destigmatization information for professionals, legislators and the general public regarding mental health and aging, assessment and treatment;
Improving mental health service delivery to older adults in the community, state hospitals and long term care settings
Promoting geriatric mental health inclusion and enhanced coordination across all aging service networks

Many of our Coalition’s activities are educational and are in partnership with organizations committed to community health and supportive of successful aging. Presentations and support materials address stigma, preventive measures, assessment needs, treatment options, community resources and the very real hope for recovery to allow older adults to enjoy life free of the pain and disability resulting from mental health disorders.

Our presentations are tailored to the specific needs and interests of the audience and topics have included:

Gifts and Growth Through Service to Older Adults
Recovery and the Myths of Aging
Depression
Anxiety and Substance Abuse in the Nursing Home
Staff Support and Team Building
Aging and Co-occurring Disorders
Assertiveness for Seniors
Facts About Late Life Depression
Digging Deeper: dementia, depression, delirium, and drugs
Problematic Aging Issues
Useful Interventions
Positive Communication Skills
What Might Be Behind Those Challenging Behaviors
Changes in Aging: What’s Normal and What’s Not
Anxiety Disorders
Assessing Behaviors
Bipolar Disorder
Building Personal Power
Caring for the Caregiver
De-escalation Techniques
Integrating Personal Issues into Work Life
Red Flags of Aging
Schizophrenia
Talking About Suicide

The Mental Health and Aging Coalition meets every other month to exchange information and explore strategic ways to improve the landscape of geriatric mental health in Maryland. The open meetings provide networking opportunities, education on mental health and aging issues in Maryland and the exchange of ideas and information to generate action on behalf of the Coalition’s mission. We hope you will join us.