Older adults have the highest suicide mortality rate of any age group in Tarrant County, but a Fort Worth program is taking a deliberately personal approach to the problem: regular check-ins, practical goals and reasons to stay connected.
The rate for Tarrant residents age 65 and older was 19.9 deaths per 100,000 people in 2022, according to the Fort Worth Report. That was higher than the national 2022 suicide rate of 18.1 per 100,000 for adults 65 and older, the CDC reported.
The Women’s Center’s PEARLS program, short for Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives, serves Tarrant County residents age 60 and older at no cost. According to The Women’s Center, trained coaches meet with participants in their homes or another comfortable setting for six to eight sessions focused on problem-solving, social connection and independence.
PEARLS Turns Loneliness Into A Practical Plan
The sessions include a screening for depression and suicidal thoughts, then help participants set one social goal, one physical goal and one pleasure goal. The approach is less about handing someone a brochure and more about helping them identify the next manageable step, whether that means calling a friend, taking a walk or returning to an activity they once enjoyed…