Season 2

Aging with Serious Mental Health Conditions

by | Nov 10, 2023

People aging with mental health conditions face complex issues including an increased risk of accelerated aging. In this episode series host Dr. Michelle Zechner is interviewed and shares her perspectives about issues and services needed.

Transcript  – Aging with Serious Mental Health Concerns

Hosts & Guests

Dr. Ann Murphy, Ph.D., CPRP

Dr. Michelle Zechner,PhD, LSW,CPRP
Associate Professor, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

 

Resources

SAMHSA – Resources on Older Adults https://www.samhsa.gov/resources-serving-older-adults    
SAMHSA has a number of products for serving older adults with mental and substance use disorders that can be useful to clinicians, other service providers, older adults, and caregivers.
 
Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network – recorded webinars and products on older adults – https://mhttcnetwork.org
 
Academy of Peer Services – Older Adult Specialty Track – https://www.academyofpeerservices.org
We Learn. We Share. We Thrive.
The Academy of Peer Services is a training and technical assistance center whose purpose is to improve peer provided services in New York State through the enhancement of skills and education.  
 
E4 Center on Excellence in Behavioral Health for Older Adults – https://e4center.org
Engage, Educate, and Empower for Equity: E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging The E4 Center measurably advances training and workforce capacity with a specific focus on the community-based implementation of evidence-based practices and programs for vulnerable older adults who experience the greatest behavioral and physical health disparities.

Takeaways From This Episode

People aging with mental health conditions are a unique population. They are at risk for complicated health problems and premature aging. At the same time many people age out of mental health programs, and aging programs may be uncomfortable in providing services, which creates a siloed approach to care. Because of the risks for premature aging, mental health providers should be addressing issues related to age at a younger age such as 40s or 50s. Healthy aging with serious mental health conditions is possible by attending to physical health and integrated services. There are several specialized programs that were developed to improve health, emotional well-being and community functioning for people aging with mental health conditions. New programs are coming out that incorporate peer services, target quality of life and use physical activity to promote cognitive, emotional and physical health.

Special Guest

Ann A. Murphy, Ph.D., CPRP

Ann A. Murphy, Ph.D., CPRP

Ann Murphy, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and Director of the Northeast and Caribbean Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers School of Health Professions. Dr. Murphy completed an experimentally-focused Masters in Psychology at the College of William and Mary and a Ph.D. in Psychiatric Rehabilitation from Rutgers. Dr. Murphy conducts research focused on interventions to improve the lives of people with mental illnesses and previously provided psychiatric rehabilitation services. She teaches within the Department’s graduate programs. Dr. Murphy is the Director of the Northeast and Caribbean MHTTC, a federally funded training and technical assistance center to enhance the capacity of the behavioral health and school mental health workforces to provide evidence-based mental health interventions. This training and TA is provided throughout federal Region 2, which includes New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Dr. Murphy also directs the Enhancing Mental Health Services for Students contract with the New Jersey Department of Education. Current research interests include the behavioral health workforce, implementation science, and interdisciplinary education to enhance the capacity of future health professionals to adequately address the needs of individuals with serious mental illnesses.

Stay Connected

The Northeast & Caribbean MHTTC served New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands and was based at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, within the School of Health Professions, Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions.

During this time period, the organization provided essential training, technical assistance, and resource dissemination to support and enhance the mental health workforce.

With funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the MHTTC collaborated with organizations and practitioners providing mental health services to enhance their capacity for delivering effective, evidence-based interventions.

This site is now part of the Northeast and Caribbean MHTTC ARCHIVE.

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation & Counseling Professions
675 Hoes Lane West
8th Floor
Piscataway, NJ 08854

Dr. Ann Murphy
murphyaa@shp.rutgers.edu