A recent spate of suicides among Chinese seniors has some community organizations
A recent spate of suicides among Chinese seniors has some community organizations concerned about the mental well-being of the elderly, World Journal reports. Below is a translation of the article.
The tragic news of Chinese seniors who chose to end their lives has prompted several Chinese community groups to address the issue. The Chinese-American Planning Council has urged Chinese families to pay attention to the mental health of the elderly. The organization has also encouraged seniors to take walks around a park, participate in senior center activities and discuss their stress.
Senior program coordinator Ling Chan of the council’s Brooklyn branch said family members should refer seniors to counseling if their relatives are quiet, refuse to leave home, display bad tempers or experience memory loss. She explained that seniors can often solve their problems if they have a venue to express their concerns. Families, she advised, should always stay connected with seniors, talk to them, and encourage them to participate in group activities.
Chan added that meeting up with friends is the most important step to helping such seniors cope with loneliness. She noted that many seniors who visited her branch were referred there by friends who had found out about their stress. After receiving counseling, most of the seniors showed signs of improvement.
“Our senior services’ main goal is about prevention,” Chan said. “As long as seniors communicate with others, the seniors will do better. The most important thing is communication.”
In addition to offering counseling services, the Brooklyn branch offers English, music, crafts and computer classes. It also holds a seminar or a workshop monthly.
“A senior staying at home can get lonely easily,” said Flora Sheu, director of the senior center at the United Chinese Association of Brooklyn.
Sheu added that seniors should meet with other seniors in order to stay updated about activities that take place at centers like hers.”
Even if the seniors come to the centers just to read papers or chat with friends, the centers would still be helpful,” she said.
Executive director Warren Chan from the Asian Community United Society recommended that retired seniors get involved with senior centers or adult day care centers. His organization will work with a nearby senior center to provide free services, such as assisting seniors to apply for housing and government benefits.
“In order to reduce the risk of depression, seniors should not stay home alone,” Chan said.
By Yi Wen Qu World Journal
Translated by Connie Yik Kong