Mental health programs that provide education, training and support for people with severe mental illnesses such as depression, bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia that helps them manage their disorder, prevent relapses and re-hospitalizations and achieve personal recovery goals. Participants adopt a self-management care plan; actively share in decision-making with mental health professionals; monitor and manage signs and symptoms or their own condition; manage the impact of the condition on their physical, emotional, occupational and social functioning; and have access to and confidence in their ability to use support services.

Individuals who are age 50, 55, 60, 62 or 65 or older depending on the minimum age for qualifying as an older adult which varies by program.

A mental state of depressed mood that is characterized by feelings of sadness, despair and discouragement. Depression ranges from normal feelings of the blues through chronic depression (dysthymia) to major depression. In many ways, it resembles the grief and mourning that follow bereavement including feelings of low self esteem, guilt and self reproach, withdrawal from interpersonal contact and physical symptoms such as eating and sleep disturbances.