For checking mental health I'd go for the rulers of the ascendant/the Moon because they represent the "soul" ruling the "body".

Hi Madeleine

First of all I wish the best to you, your father and your family.
Lately my father has also had some symptoms of a sort of dementia -even if it?s sort of natural for such an age (b.1927)- so I fully understand your anxiety about your father?s health.

Dementia is a disease of the old age and relates to memory. I think that apart from mercury, the 4H and its lord state are indicative: IC is the end of one?s life, meaning his late years.

In the thread over the mental diseases I tried to do some research in Astrodatabank under the Category: Diagnoses_:_Major_Diseases_:_Alzheimer's/Senility
Although most of the sample cases had Saturn in 4H or aspecting L4 or in 12H or L4 in 12H, Mars was also sometimes involved to 4H or L4, so did Uranus or Pluto.

In your father?s chart, Mars is on 4H and L4, Venus, conj Uranus. I am sure more indications will be needed, which my lack of further astrological knowledge cannot provide.

His Mars in 4H can simply mean no more than what you described to us:

My dad is from a generation in which it was considered weak for a man to cry. My dad always was tough and strong on the outside. He wasn't the cuddling type, or one to express his feelings in words.
And now it's as if his emotions and feelings are all erupting. For the first time in my life I saw him cry. And not just tears flowing, but really heartbreaking crying. He told me how much he loves my mom but can't tell her himself. He even forbid me to tell her what he said, but I told her anyway. He literally said : I love her so much it hurts

Georgia

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