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.
The program also offers PEARLS Connect, a monthly gathering for adults 60 and older who want continued support after individual coaching. The United Way of Tarrant County describes PEARLS as part of a wider effort to reduce social isolation among vulnerable seniors through in-home behavioral health services and community partnerships.
At a July meeting in Fort Worth, about 15 older adults gathered for bingo and time to share their joys and struggles. Romona Dunlap, 73, joined PEARLS after spending two and a half years caring for her mother, while other participants have navigated grief, caregiving and the isolation that can follow major changes in family life, the Fort Worth Report noted.
PEARLS is also facing its own pressure. The Women’s Center received $25,000 for the program in 2026, but a local grant ended, pandemic-era ARPA funding expired and the organization eliminated one coach and a case manager, leaving two PEARLS coaches, according to the report. Even so, the program has served nearly 800 older adults in Tarrant County since 2015, with 97% of participants who complete coaching reporting symptom improvement.
Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or worried about a loved one can call or text 988 or use the online chat at the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The service is confidential and connects people with trained crisis counselors around the clock.
