Depression Or Hope Among The Elderly

The National Institute of Mental Health says that when you compare Americans over 65 to the rest of the population you discover they are more likely to commit suicide than other age groups. Here are the stats:

• Although they comprise only 12 percent of the U.S. population, people age 65 and older accounted for 16 percent of suicide deaths in 2004.

• 14.3 of every 100,000 people age 65 and older died by suicide in 2004, higher than the rate of about 11 per 100,000 in the general population. 

• Non-Hispanic white men age 85 and older were most likely to die by suicide. They had a rate of 49.8 suicide deaths per 100,000 persons in that age group. 

The article points to symptoms and treatment, emphasizing that disabilities and illnesses are a major cause of depression for older folks. How should we Christians respond to this frightening reality? We start by looking at a few Bible verses about depression. 

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12).

 The book of Job especially addresses this issue. For instance we read 

My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt; my skin hardens, then breaks out afresh. My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle and come to their end without hope. Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good (Job 7:5-7)

To be 'heart sick' and without hope is a very frightening thing and can indeed lead to depression and despair. I can personally relate to this feeling as I reflect upon surgeries that caused me to be hospitalized. 


When I served as a parish pastor I often visited sick elderly people in hospitals, nursing homes and in their own homes. Some were deeply depressed and weighed down. Others blessed me as I observed their hope and peace. 


One such was a wonderful lady whom I'll call Mary. She told me she had been diagnosed with cancer several years earlier and was supposed to die. Instead the cancer went into remission and she continued to live in her own small apartment in her daughter's house. But then the cancer returned and this time her health degenerated week by week. 


A few days before she left this earth we celebrated the Lord's Supper in her room. She could barely lift her head to eat the bit of bread I offered and sip from the communion wine, but her face was radiant and her heart was at peace. She was not depressed. Why not? Because her heart was filled with hope. She was absolutely convinced that very soon she would be in the presence of her Savior, the Lord Jesus, and with her loved ones who had gone before her. She was filled with hope and eternal life. When she departed this life, we celebrated that life and gave thanks to God for His grace and mercy. 


Here's a quote about this hope from my favorite Bible chapter: 

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:18-25).