A Comprehensive Guide To Adult Mental Health Services From Start To Finish

· 6 min read
A Comprehensive Guide To Adult Mental Health Services From Start To Finish

Different Levels of Adult Mental Health Services

Mental health services are available to help you deal with your symptoms and recover from mental illness. This includes therapy, medication and support groups.

Assertive Community Treatment Teams are multidisciplinary teams consisting of psychiatrists and nurses, social workers and certified peer supports. They help people with chronic and severe mental illnesses stay at home instead of in hospitals.

Treatment Options

There are many different levels of treatment for adults with mental health issues. The correct degree of treatment can be crucial to a person’s recovery.

A combination of treatment strategies is the most efficient. For example, weekly talk therapy might not be enough to address a crisis, however, someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis could benefit from a residential psychiatric treatment program. Also, someone in a minor slump could benefit from self-help or group therapy, but an issue that is more serious is likely to require one on one session with a licensed therapist.

Crisis intervention services are often the first step in getting assistance for mental illnesses. They help de-escalate the situation and place individuals in touch with a professional therapist for guidance and counseling. These services can be provided in a hospital, an emergency room, or even via the phone for people living far from the mental health center.

Intermediate levels of treatment consist of a partial hospitalization program (also known as day treatment) and intensive outpatient treatment and regular therapy sessions with an individual. The residential treatment program for psychiatric patients offers a home-like environment in which patients can unwind from their daily lives and focus on healing and conquering challenges. These facilities are licensed and offer 24/7 supervision.

Assertive community treatment (ACT) is an individual-centered service that brings together a team of professionals to help adult individuals with severe and persistent mental illness live in the community, instead of in institutions. The team consists of a psychiatrist, nurse and case manager, as well as a vocational specialist, and certified peer support specialists who offer a range of community-based services such as medication management, support and housing assistance.

Residential or long-term inpatient treatment isn't common however it is an excellent option if you're not stable enough to stay at home and need more structure and supervision than outpatient therapies can provide. These programs are usually situated on a campus that is larger than traditional mental hospitals. They provide a range of activities and therapies including individual and group sessions, as well as recreational activities as well as education and training in order to improve your confidence.

Partial Hospitalization

Certain adults may require more intensive treatment than traditional outpatient services can offer but do not require the security and surveillance of an inpatient psychiatric hospital. These adults may be struggling with a range of mental health issues, such as bipolar disorder, depression or anorexia.  mental health assessment online  can help stabilize symptoms and provide an easy transition into outpatient treatment. The program is run by a multidisciplinary group of psychotherapists, registered nurses recreation therapists and program facilitators, who are supervised by psychiatrists. Patients 18 years of age or older may be admitted to the program directly from outpatient treatment or after being discharged from an inpatient psychiatric admission.

The length of this program is contingent on your requirements. It could be three months or more. During this period, you will work closely with a psychiatrist in order to create a treatment plan that is customized to your needs. You will also be involved in group therapy, recreational therapies and wellness activities. You will also be involved in medication management and will be able to meet with a nurse for education and a review of your medications.

You will remain at home throughout your treatment, but you will spend many hours or days each week in a mental health facility. During your stay, you'll receive a comprehensive and structured treatment in a safe and secure environment. You can expect to participate in a variety of therapies including cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy and motivational enhancement therapy. These techniques are designed to help you to overcome the obstacles in your way to a full recovery.

Based on the insurance company, partial-hospitalization programs may be less expensive than inpatient care. Most private insurances will cover these treatments if you have a proof of medical necessity from your physician. Medicare covers these services however, you must meet certain requirements to be eligible.

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient mental health treatment is the most intense kind of treatment. Inpatient services offer supervision and a structured setting to assist people suffering from severe problems, such as major depression or bipolar disorder. The treatment program consists of daily sessions with a therapist as well as a psychiatrist and social worker. The treatment programs can also include therapy for co-occurring mental illness and addiction to drugs. Inpatient therapy is available in a psychiatric facility or the psychiatric section of the regular hospital.

Many adults are referred to inpatient mental health services following a breakdown or crisis. They may be in immediate danger of causing harm to themselves or others and have to be monitored until they are safe. This is usually due to an untreated, severe depression episode. Depression can develop on a person slowly and at a slower pace and drain their energy until they become unable to function. Sometimes, a person may be faced with an illness that requires law enforcement or emergency services involvement, and then they may be involuntarily committed for inpatient care.

Sometimes, a person of a young age will enter residential treatment due to a crisis or have been struggling for a long amount of time with their symptoms but haven't made any progress. The aim of these programs is to assist them create sustainable recovery. These programs take young adults away from their homes and other unhealthy environments, and offer a structured and supportive environment in which they can focus on their issues.

These programs are usually longer than short-term inpatient psychiatric hospital stays, and can be for up to 30 days. The programs consist of educational sessions and therapeutic activities regarding mental health disorders and substance abuse. They also teach life skills and offer support, based on the specific requirements of each individual.

Many insurance companies will pay for the costs of inpatient mental health treatment. However, it's important to talk with your insurance provider to find out exactly the coverage you're entitled to and to discuss the various kinds of inpatient mental health treatment. There are numerous organizations that provide low-cost and no-cost inpatient services for those who don't have insurance.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment, as the name suggests allows patients to work and stay at home during their recovery. It's a crucial step down from residential recovery and works as a base for ongoing treatment following the residential mental health services. Outpatient rehab services are less supervised than inpatient care and are best suited for those who have already established an environment that is safe and free of negative influences, and who are ready to take on responsibility for their recovery.



Outpatient programs have an incredibly flexible schedule that helps participants remain on track with their commitments to work, school and families. The intensity of the basic outpatient therapy, intensive outpatient programs, and part-hospitalization programmes varies. The most rigorous of these, partial hospitalization programming typically requires five to six hours of therapy per day, 5 days a week. These programs can help stabilize behavior in early recovery, and often serve as a bridge to residential treatment.

The majority of inpatient and residential mental health programs offer outpatient therapy, and a few have a full range of outpatient services available for their clients. Oftentimes, these programs offer support groups that enable participants to identify common triggers and learn strategies for coping that can be beneficial during a crisis or stressful period.

In addition, a lot of outpatient programs have the option of a family-based behavior therapy component. This can include sessions for groups and individuals that focus on a variety of issues, like relationships, work or school issues and parenting. This allows participants to bring their concerns into the therapy environment and apply what they have learned to their everyday life.

It's important to prepare for a residential or inpatient mental health program by contacting the center and ensuring that the required paperwork has been completed and any issues settled prior to your entry date. If you're preparing for an inpatient program, it's a good idea to contact your family members to let them know what you can expect during your time at the center for recovery and will be able to offer support. It is generally possible to visit family members who are receiving residential treatment or inpatient care. However, this may differ between programs.