GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A mental health expert is sharing signs to look for and tips to help older people who may be struggling.

As people age, they may experience certain life changes that could impact their mental health.

“Stressors in their life that have to do with physical health, maybe have to do with their housing and changes in where they’re living, maybe it’s facing the death of a loved one, that now they’re facing life by themselves. Older adults can also experience times of loneliness, times of feeling worthless because they’re not doing the same things that they were doing before,” explained Christy Buck with Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan.

Depression is the most common mental health issue among older adults, along with anxiety. Buck said nationally, 20% of deaths by suicide are by people 60 years and older. In Kent County, that stat was at 24% the last two years.

“At that point, oftentimes people, they’re struggling. They’re struggling with loneliness. They’re struggling with living by myself, no one there to take care of them anymore. They’re living with those serious physical health concerns that maybe come along with pain … increased medicines, that potentially could have a side effect where I could be more depressed,” Buck said.

She recommended starting conversations with loved ones about getting help and having resources to reach out to, like the National Suicide Hotline: 988. Cries for help can look like comments made by the older adult.

“Somebody who might be saying, ‘You would be better off without me, I’m such a burden to the whole family,’ those things of ‘I want to die, I don’t want to wake up tomorrow morning, I wish I were dead,’” explained Buck.

When you hear those cries for help, Buck recommends opening a conversation about suicide and help them get in touch with mental health resources.

If you or someone you know is struggling and needs someone to talk to, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.