Retirees should find a passion to stave off depression, expert advises

People in retirement should find an activity they are passionate about to prevent themselves from becoming depressed as the exit from the workforce begins to take its toll on their mind frame.

That is according to Michelle Clemons, a neuro-linguistic programming and mindfulness coach and designer of the Stress to Success Training Program, who believes retirement is a period when depression can kick in.

She said: “It is a time when our well defined social roles dramatically change and our place in the world can seem to reduce and diminish in importance.”

As such, she recommends taking up a new hobby, like photography or gardening, or indulging in some voluntary or part time work.

Her comments are in light of recent figures compiled for BBC Inside Out London by the NHS Information Centre, which showed a 163% rise in the number of alcohol-related hospital admissions for the over 65s in the past decade.

Ms Clemons concluded: “Make sure that when you retire you have something important in your life to replace the void when work stops.”

Posted by David Shuker