Mental Health in Older Adulthood: What Community Providers Should Know (Recorded)

***NOTICE: This course will be available through June 30, 2025. Enrollment for this course will close on Monday, June 23 at 11:59 p.m. ET. If you would like to sign up for this course, please sign up by this time. For those who enroll by 6/23 at 11:59 p.m. ET, access to the course, its materials, and certificates will remain open until 6/30/25 at 11:59 p.m. ET and will no longer be available after that deadline. Future enrollment for this course will be moving to a new enrollment management system in July 2025.***

Fee: $0

Content Level: Beginner

Registration Deadline: Monday, June 23, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EDT

Development Date: March 2024

Target Audience: 988 call line staff and other human services professionals

Format and Delivery Method: This training is constructed as a non-interactive, recorded video-based asynchronous distance learning course. 

Course Description 

Although many older adults experience high levels of life satisfaction, some will experience mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, trauma and/or substance misuse. Often, these issues are compounded by a lack of access to mental health services, stigma related to aging and/or mental health and a general misunderstanding of how mental health concerns are experienced in later life. In this thought-provoking and practical training, participants will analyze the current prevalence of mental health concerns among older adults, recognize differences in how mental health is experienced in older adulthood and develop strategies to support older adults who may be struggling with these mental health concerns.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, participants will be able to: 

• Analyze the current prevalence of mental health concerns among older adults living in the United States.
• Recognize differences in how mental health is experienced in older adulthood, as well as the impact of older adults' lack of access to mental health services and stigma related to aging and/or mental health.
• Develop strategies for community providers to support older adults who may be struggling with these mental health concerns.

Course Outline

Asynchonous time determined based on original event held via live webinar. Adapted to be self-paced. Video length is 2:54:46 and covers:

• Overview of older adult mental health in the context of shifting national and state demographics
• Key mental health diagnoses (e.g., depression anxiety, trauma and substance misuse)
• How to best support older adults who may be struggling with these mental health concerns, including tips for call line employees, mental health professionals and aging network personnel
• 15 minutes to complete post-test and course evaluation requirements

Course Completion Requirements

• Participants must submit a pre-course survey, complete all coursework requirements, and pass the course post-test with a score of at least 80%. Unlimited attempts are allowed.
• The post-course evaluation survey will be immediately available once the required coursework and post-test are finished, and the evaluation must be completed to receive CE credit.
• The CE certificate will be available for download once the evaluation is submitted.

Developed by Matthew Fullen, PhD, LPCC

Associate Professor at Virginia Tech

Matthew Fullen, PhD, LPCC, is an associate professor at Virginia Tech, where he teaches in the counselor education program. Fullen's research, teaching and advocacy focus on the mental health needs of older adults, with an emphasis on addressing gaps in Medicare mental health policy and developing programs to enhance resilience and wellness and prevent suicide among older adults. Fullen is the counseling profession’s most active scholar on aging and mental health, with over 40 peer-reviewed publications and over 95 peer-reviewed conference presentations and keynotes. He has received research grant funding from both public and private entities, including the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and the Mather Institute, to develop programs that support older adults’ mental health. In recognition of his research and professional leadership related to Medicare advocacy, he has received the Virginia Tech Land Grant Scholar Award, as well as three national awards from the American Counseling Association: Counselor Educator Advocacy Award (2023), top Research Award (2021), and Carl D. Perkins Government Relations Award (2020). More information about his work can be found at agewellcounseling.org.

Continuing Education Approvals 

• This course is approved for 3 CE hours for Counselors and Social Workers, as well as Prevention Professionals in domain PR1 (renewals only) and Substance Use Counselors in domain C2 in the state of Ohio.

Approval Statements

This training is approved by The Ohio State University College of Social Work and accepted by the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist (CSWMFT) Board.

The Ohio State University College of Social Work has been approved by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals (CDP) Board as a provider of Continuing Education, approval number: 50-24068.

Certificates & CE Reporting

The CE certificate will be available for download in the ScarletCanvas-Catalog Learning Platform once the evaluation survey is submitted. Participants will also receive an automated email from ScarletCanvas-Catalog at notifications@instructure.com containing a link to download the certificate within 24-hours of completion. Ensure you have this email address marked as a safe sender to receive communications from ScarletCanvas-Catalog.

Hours for those with Ohio licenses that are submitted with the evaluation survey will be reported to CE Broker every 14 days (twice per month).

Please note: You may only complete this course ONE time for CE credit. You are welcome to access a course again to revisit content while it is open, but you will only receive one certificate and credit for Ohio licensees will only be reported to CE Broker one time for your completion of this particular course.

Cancellations, Refunds, Grievances, Accessibility Requests & Learning Accommodations

Please visit the Policies section of our website for more information on our processes for cancellations, refunds, grievances, course completions & certificates, participant conduct, and accessibility requests and learning accommodations.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. If you require an accommodation to participate in this course, please contact CSW Accessibility as early as possible and in advance of the training start date by email at csw-accessibility@osu.edu or call 614-688-1657. Requests received at least 14-days prior to the date you plan to begin a course will generally allow us to provide seamless access, but the College will make every effort to meet requests that we receive regardless of lead time.

Questions, Concerns, or Feedback? Contact Us!

If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback about the course content or delivery format, please contact the CSW Office of Continuing Education at cswce@osu.edu. For questions related to the course content, our office will facilitate communication with the course instructor on your behalf and connect you, if applicable. Presenter contact information will be provided within the course for questions, feedback, or comments.

The Ohio State University, College of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education, 302 Stillman Hall, 1947 College Road, Columbus, OH, 43210. Phone: (614) 292-3032 Email: cswce@osu.edu Website: csw.osu.edu/continuing-education/    

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