Case Study (depression in old people)

Full case study: link My blog: http://arkaprabhadey.blogspot.in/

Synopsis:

Male retirees experience high levels of satisfaction directly after retirement, but then it falls sharply a few years later.

While employed, men develop a strong routine and many of their friendships come from work, For a lot of guys, when they retire, they lose that social network and social connection … and the meaningful contribution they get out of what they do.

men who have attached their sense of identity and value to their work can become depressed in retirement if they can't successfully transfer that attachment to new interests. Other losses—the death of a spouse or peers, moving away from lifelong attachment to home and friends—often lead to loneliness and sadness. A man confronting a serious illness or signs of mental decline may become depressed by the prospect of dependency. It’s not the job or the money that men miss so much in retirement, but the socialization and self-esteem that work brings

retirement increases the probability of suffering from clinical depression by about 40 per cent. Men also have the highest rates of suicide worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

Statistics from the U.S.-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show the highest increase in suicide is in men 50 and over, while suicide rates for men are highest among those 75 and older. Men 80 and older are the group with the highest suicide rates in Canada, according to research from the Mood Disorders Society of Canada.

From the age of 2-3 we are following a routine we are all institutionalised. Suddenly at the age of 60 you just can't retire and  live a unplanned life, we can't take that much freedom, we need purpose in life, Some meaning In life and something to look up to, contribute to our society. So imagine at the age of 72 someday you will wake up and feel that  there is nothing that you have to do, the world will go on its way your action doesn't even matter other than just staying alive, your are not  contributing to any one's happiness and you know that you have still 20+ years of meaningless life remaining, Sure you can do whatever you want there is no one to stop you. You maybe have all the money.

But the fundamental source of happiness comes from helping others, making someone else's life better, making them happy.

After retirement you still have 20 to 30 years to live on, And that's a long time to live without any Identity.