A
Melrose man is sharing his story with News 12 after realizing depression can
happen at any age.
Angel
Torres, 77, says his depression began following the 2019 death of his wife of
40 years.
According
to the Melrose senior, after the heartbreaking loss he started having bouts of
depression. Months of being isolated at home because of the pandemic took a
toll on his mental health.
“I was
getting sad. I didn't know I was getting depression,” says Torres.
After
his condition reached a critical point, loved ones brought him to NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi for help and treatment.
The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that 1 in 4 adults ages 65 and older have
reported anxiety or depression within the past year.
Dr.
Johanna Cabassa is a geriatric psychiatrist at Jacobi. Cabassa says the
pandemic has taken a toll on people of all ages. “A lot of people have lost
someone. Depression is not part of aging.”
News
12 is told Jacobi offers a wide range of mental health and treatment programs – some focusing on the
elderly.
“Access
is important,” says Cabassa. “Communicating with their family members making sure
we bring services to them.”
Some
common signs of depression include trouble sleeping, loss of interest in
favorite activities, overwhelming feeling of sadness, change in appetite,
fatigue, and hopeless, according to the city’s Department of Health.
As for
Torres, he tells News 12 his treatment is making a difference in his mental
wellbeing by attending therapy sessions at least twice a week. He says he is in
a better place because of his treatment and the help from his family.