Residential Treatment Vs Inpatient Mental Health Treatment
Treatment for mental health issues is available in a variety of settings. The right place for treatment depends on:
- the type of care you need,
- the severity of your mental health condition,
- your physical health, and
- your treatment plan.
Adults who need more intensive mental health treatment can seek care in a few different ways:
- Hospital inpatient: Short-term hospital inpatient care with specialized inpatient units for someone who is medically compromised and needs urgent medical attention for a mental health crisis.
- Residential treatment facilities: These facilities provide care outside of a hospital or medical facility. Many of these facilities help with drug and alcohol rehabilitation over several weeks or months.
Is Hospital Treatment Right For Me
Your experience of being treated in hospital can depend on:
- the hospital you go to
- what kind of treatment you receive
- your personal feelings about being in hospital.
Some people prefer being in hospital while others find it very difficult. Below are some aspects of hospital stays you might want to consider:
What To Expect If You Go To Urgent Care With Anxiety Symptoms
Youll likely be evaluated for urgent mental health problems and urgent medical problems. Youll likely have your vitals checked note that if you are having anxiety symptoms or a panic attack then your heart rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure will likely be higher than normal.
The urgent care staff will likely take a history of your symptoms. If they cant find any medical cause for them, they may diagnose you with an anxiety or panic disorder, and refer you for further care. They may or may not give you a short term prescription and send you home.
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Are There Other Options Besides The Er
As mentioned, going to the ER during a mental health crisis when youre already scared can feel intimidating.
If the emergency room isnt an option for you, there are other ways to seek help during a mental health emergency:
- Crisis lines.The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, for example, is available to help 24/7. They can be reached at 800-273-8255.
- Mobile crisis teams. These teams can provide prescreening evaluations. They can also assist with arrangements for inpatient care and community programs.
- Walk-in services. These clinics and urgent care centers offer crisis counseling in a less overwhelming setting than a hospital. However, they may suggest hospitalization when necessary.
Most Common Depression Diagnosis Scales
Some of the most popular scales used to help clinicians diagnose depression include:
- Beck Depression Inventory
- Clinically Useful Depression Outcome Scale
- Geriatric Depression Scale
- Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and adolescent PHQ-9
- Plutchik-Van Praag Self-Report Depression Scale
- Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology
- Rome Depression Inventory
- Zung Self-Rating Depression Scales
Some scales, such as the Beck Depression Inventory, are copyright protected and not available outside of a doctors office or mental health clinic . There are inventories, scales, and questionnaires that are in the public domain and, therefore, more accessible.
The PHQ, for example, is available for free online and in over 30 languages. It can be downloaded as a PDF or accessed as an interactive quiz on several reputable mental health websites.
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Looking After Someone Who Has Depression
If you’re close to someone with depression, their condition can affect you too. Your relationship, and family life in general, can be strained, and you might not know what to do or how to help.
Talking about the situation can help. Finding a support group, or talking to other people in a similar situation, can make it easier to cope. If the condition is causing difficulties in your relationship with your partner, you could contact a relationship counsellor who can talk things through with both of you.
When suffering from depression, men are less likely to ask for help than women. They’re also more likely to turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with the symptoms.
Why Choose Huntsman Mental Health Institute
Huntsman Mental Health Institute at University of Utah Health takes a patient-centered approach to mental health care. Mental health issues are often misunderstood. Our HMHI inpatient care team at U of U Hospital has a deep understanding of all types of mental health issues and treats every person with compassion, dignity, and respect.
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What Will Happen Once Your Child Is In
The key bit of information you need to swallow up front is that the sole purpose of an inpatient stay is to stabilize your child enough so that he can be discharged to outpatient care. In other words, they arent going to cure anything here. At best, your childs symptoms or behavior will improve 10%, maybe 20%. Thats a long way from the complete hell youve been living in, but its almost certainly not what you were hoping for.
As with other hospitals, nothing of substance happens on weekends. If your child enters on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, he wont be evaluated by the regular team on the unit until Monday.
Once the doctors have visited with your child , they will come up with a working diagnosis.
Your childs day will be structured on a schedule that includes a daily check-in by medical staff, school and various group therapies. These may include classes or groups on coping skills, information on mental health, and family therapy. Some hospitals also use experiential therapies that incorporate animals, music, art or horticulture. There is unlikely to be any individual counseling. Remember, the goal isnt to get to the bottom of anything. The goal is to get your child stable enough to move to outpatient treatment, where the long-term work takes place.
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Diagnosing And Treating Depression
There’s no physical test for depression.
If you experience depression symptoms most of the day, every day, for more than two weeks, you should visit your GP. This is especially important if:
- you have symptoms of depression that aren’t getting any better
- you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide
- your work, relationships with friends and family, or interests are affected by your mood
It can be hard for people with depression to imagine that anything can help them but the sooner you seek help, the sooner the symptoms start to get better.
Your GP may examine you and perform blood or urine tests to make sure there isn’t another condition causing your depression symptoms, like an underactive thyroid.
When you see your GP, they’ll try to find out if you have depression by asking you questions. These are likely to be about your health, how you’re feeling, and how that is affecting you mentally and physically.
Telling your doctor your symptoms and the affect they are having on you will help your GP to tell if you have depression, and how severe the condition is. It’s important to be as open as possible.
Your conversation with your GP will be confidential. This rule can only be broken if your GP thinks there is a significant risk of harm to you or others, and that telling a family member or carer would make that risk lower.
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When Does Hospitalization Become Necessary
Being committed to a psychiatric hospital or ward sounds drastic and carries a certain lingering stigma. However, hospitalization may be the best option to guarantee someones safety under certain circumstances. Your friend or loved one may need to be hospitalized if they:
- are at risk of hurting themselves or others
- are unable to perform daily tasks or care for themselves properly
- need to be monitored when trying a new medication
- need treatments that are only given in a hospital, such as electroconvulsive therapy and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
The best option for hospitalization is to have the person voluntarily commit themselves. The legal requirements for having someone involuntarily committed for psychiatric treatment or evaluation are governed by state law in the United States. If you suspect that a loved one may need hospitalization but they refuse to commit themselves, talk to a mental health professional about the legal requirements for commitment.
A threat of suicide is the most common reason for hospitalization, but it may not be enough to justify hospitalization. A mental health professional will need to evaluate your friend or loved one to determine if theyre an immediate threat to themselves or others before agreeing to commit them to the hospital.
Generally, hospital stays last about three days, unless a family member can pay for a longer stay in a private facility.
Can Depression Be Prevented
Even if you are more vulnerable to depression, there is plenty you can do to keep symptoms away.
Some proven strategies to help you stay well include:
- avoiding harmful levels of alcohol and other substance use
- improving your sleep
- reducing anxiety, such as through relaxation techniques
- staying sociable, so you avoid becoming isolated
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Why Do Anxiety Attacks Cause These Physical Symptoms
One of the most common reasons that anxiety attacks are such a frightening experience is because they cause physical symptoms that mimic more serious diseases. This causes many people to become incredibly fearful for their health, believing that there is no way something like anxiety can lead to such a physical response.
But anxiety causes a host of different physical reactions that can explain most of the anxiety symptoms, and the most common cause is hyperventilation.
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When Should You Consider Going To The Er
If youre ever worried about safety, you should go to the ER, says Isabelle Morley, PsyD, of Boston, Massachusetts, who specializes in helping individuals address mental health issues, as well as provides couples therapy and coaching.
This means that if you think you or someone else might seriously hurt themselves or are having thoughts of suicide, seek immediate psychiatric help. The ER is the right place to go, she adds.
If seeing a private doctor or going to a mental health center isnt possible during a mental health crisis, heading to the ER may be your only option.
In addition to self-harm and thoughts of suicide, you should consider going to the ER if youre experiencing the following:
- visual or auditory hallucinations
Going to the ER may feel like an overwhelming experience. Emergency rooms, after all, are often loud, busy, and chaotic, sometimes with long wait times.
And yet, it may be comforting to know that crisis services are available to help anywhere, anytime and to anyone.
Whats more, most emergency rooms will aim to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Warm blankets, food, and drinks are all often provided as a course of action is determined.
At the ER, you will be seen by a team of nurses and doctors, likely including a psychiatrist, Morley says. In some ERs, you might be seen by a psychologist or other psychotherapist in addition to the medical team.
Theyll ask you questions about the following:
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Sian Frankie And Mandy Describe What It Was Like To Be Under Observation On The Ward
I found private health care, the people in private health care more helpful in their professional capacity than the NHS ones. Probably cos theyre all overworked or whatever Im sure that they dont mean to do that, but its just a completely different set up. was a very non-threatening environment and you respect the staff really.
Some people said they were able to see the positives of staying in hospital, when looking back on those experiences. One woman who had been going through very difficult time and stayed in different hospitals, said that staying in hospital saved my life.
For helplines and other resources please see our Resources section.
Last reviewed June 2017.
Depression: A Serious But Misunderstood Mental Illness
One of the most common mental illnesses in the United States, depression can have serious consequences. It is also one of the most misunderstood languages. The symptoms of depression include mood, energy, focus, and appetite. Trauma or stress can cause it, such as abuse, death, and loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, or financial difficulties. Genetics, severe life stressors, the substances you use , and medical conditions are all factors that can lead to depression. If there is a mental illness, it can be life-threatening or cause a hospital stay. If you or someone you know is experiencing feelings of depression, dont be afraid to seek professional help. There are numerous online resources to use.
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Health Insurance For Musicians
1. Health Insurance and Musicians | Future of Music Coalition The majority of working musicians have a limited set of choices when obtaining health insurance coverage. Some labor unions and organizations in particular Beyond the Health Insurance Marketplace, know your options when it comes to obtaining
Admission To An Approved Psychiatriccentre
When you are received at an approved psychiatric centre, you must beexamined by a consultant psychiatrist on the staff. You may be detained for amaximum of 24 hours in the centre for this examination.
If the psychiatrist is satisfied that you are suffering from a mentaldisorder, they then make an admission order. If the psychiatrist is notsatisfied that you are suffering from a mental disorder, you must be releasedimmediately. The admission order is valid for 21 days. It authorises yourreception, detention and treatment in the centre for this period.
A renewal order may extend this period by a further 3 months. This must bemade by the consultant psychiatrist responsible and they must have examined youin the week before making the order. A further renewal order may be made by thesame psychiatrist for a period of 6 months and subsequently for 12 months at atime.
There are provisions for the review of all admission orders. You can readmore in our document on the rights of psychiatric patients.
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What Are The Signs Of Depression
Depression is as much a disease as diabetes or cancer. And while the terms sadness, stress and depression often used interchangeably, theres a difference.
Sadness is something we all encounter periodically during our lives. Its a normal reaction to loss, unhappiness or struggle. Stress is an emotion we experience in response to adverse or demanding circumstances.
Depression is more serious and long-lasting than sadness or stress. And its something people have no control over. A depressive episode is characterized by feeling sad and down most of the day, almost every day for a minimum of 12 to 15 days.
Depression symptoms can include:
- Persistent sad or anxious mood
- Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness or worthlessness
- Loss of interest in hobbies or activities
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Changes in sleep pattern, such as sleeping too much or experiencing insomnia
- Appetite or weight changes
- Pain, headaches or digestive problems without a clear cause
- Thoughts of suicide
It can be difficult to recognize depression in patients because some medical conditions or medications can cause some of these same physical symptoms. But its important to be aware of these signs of depression so you or your loved one can begin treatment as soon as possible.
Suicide: What Will Happen To You When You Ask For Help
The Triage Process
Whether you end up at the ER or the office of a mental health professional, you can expect to be interviewed in order to establish the acuteness and lethality of your present suicide risk. In a hospital environment this entrance interview is typically known as triage. If your risk of harming yourself is judged to be severe, you will likely be asked to enter the hospital as a psychiatric patient on an inpatient unit. If your suicide risk is judged to be lower than severe, you will likely be given some names of local mental health professionals and sent home.
You can expect a similar introductory interview to be part of your first interactions with any psychiatrists or psychotherapists you may work with on an outpatient basis. Those professionals also must establish your level of suicide risk and the type of care necessary to reasonably ensure your safety. See the section below concerning the Initial Treatment Interview, for a list of some of the questions you may be asked that help professionals to understand your current level of suicide risk. Even if you start off in a clinicians office, if you are judged to be acutely suicidal, you may be asked to enter the hospital for a while. If you are not judged to be an acute risk, you will likely be offered psychiatric and/or psychotherapeutic care consistent with your presenting symptoms, and your suicidality risk will be monitored on an ongoing basis.
Inpatient Treatment
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My Experience Going To The Emergency Room
10 Oct 2017 5 min read
This post is presented in collaboration with Active Minds, the national organization dedicated to empowering students to speak openly about mental health.
Please note: This piece talks about a specific experience regarding suicidal thoughts and hospitalizations. Not all experiences will be or are the same.
When someone is actively suicidal, we often tell them to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, call 911, or go to the local Emergency Room. These are all correct responses, but they are also scary, big steps for someone in a mental health crisis to take. I am going to try to demystify what happens at the emergency room when you go there for suicidal thoughts and planning by sharing my own experiences.
After telling the ER staff the reason why I was there, I was evaluated.
Whenever you go into the ER, for whatever reason, you tell the staff why you are there. You can word this however you want: I am feeling suicidal, I have a suicide plan, Im having suicidal thoughts, Im feeling really depressed, etc. I went with my parents, so they talked to the staff for me because I was unable to.
My level of care needed was determined and they found me a place in that level of care.
In mental health treatment, there are different levels of care, meaning how much supervision and treatment you need.
Inpatient hospitalization is there to keep you safe and stabilize you.
Dont be scared of getting the help you need