Treatment for mental illness can occur in various venues and usually involves a multidisciplinary team of professionals, including counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, mental health aides, and peer support specialists.
There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all mental health treatment. Instead, treatment should be individualized to the individual. Even among persons with the same mental health diagnosis, mental health disorders can vary widely from person to person.
The following are some mental health therapy options discussed in this article:
- Inpatient psychiatric care.
- Inpatient or residential treatment for mental illness.
- Outpatient mental health care.
- Treatment for two diagnoses.
- Psychotherapy.
- Medication.
- Support groups and 12-step programs
- Treatments that are complementary and alternative.
- How to locate a rehabilitation program.
Inpatient psychiatric care
A person is admitted to a psychiatric hospital when they:
- Private mental health facility.
- A medical facility has a psychiatric ward.
- A state-run psychiatric facility.
Stabilization, continuous monitoring, medication, fluid and nourishment supply, and other necessary emergency care comprise psychiatric hospitalized treatment.
Hospitalization can be voluntary or involuntary. When a person is gravely incapacitated or a danger to herself or others, they may be hospitalized involuntarily.
Residential or inpatient mental health treatment
Inpatient treatment, also known as residential mental health care, takes place in a residential institution and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This level of care is best suited for those who require constant medical supervision and those who have relatively severe, long-term symptoms that have not responded to outpatient mental health treatment.
Mental Health Treatment in the Community
Participants in outpatient mental health treatment do not have to live at the treatment facility. Participants instead go to the treatment center or therapist’s office on specific days of the week.
Psychiatric medications and outpatient medical care
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Dual diagnosis treatment, which provides comprehensive mental health care to those suffering from mental illness and an addiction or drug use issue, can be beneficial. In dual diagnosis treatment, both problems are addressed and treated simultaneously.
To increase the chances of a full recovery, both disorders must be treated simultaneously. For example, if an addict has a co-occurring anxiety illness, they may relapse to self-medicate the unmanaged anxiety. Preventing relapse and maintaining long-term sobriety requires addressing the underlying mental health disorders and traumas that contribute to addiction.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is beneficial in treating a variety of mental health issues and is available in both inpatient and outpatient settings. An individual or a group of people engages in talk therapy with a therapist who can help them process their feelings and learn new coping strategies.
There are numerous types of psychotherapy to choose from, including:
- Individual therapy is a type of talk therapy in which a client meets with a therapist one-on-one to address unresolved feelings, traumas, and mental health issues using a variety of tactics and approaches.
- Group therapy is usually led by a therapist and involves many people. The majority of group therapy sessions are focused on a single issue that everyone in the group is working on. A therapist might facilitate a group therapy session on anger management, postpartum depression, or suicide.
- Family therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which family members meet with a therapist to work through problems. A licensed marriage and family therapist (MFT) who specializes in family therapy is frequently used to conduct family therapy.
- The most popular psychotherapy treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). It can be applied to an individual, a group, or a family. CBT therapists assist clients in changing unhealthy beliefs and habits with realistic self-talk and positive actions.
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Medication
Medications can be used to treat mental illness symptoms. In inpatient and outpatient mental health settings, drugs are frequently utilized in conjunction with psychotherapy.
Medications used to treat mental illness include:
- Antidepressants alleviate the symptoms of depression, although they may also be used for anxiety or insomnia in some circumstances. Selected serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are two forms of antidepressants (SNRIs).
- Anti-anxiety medicines: People who suffer from generalized anxiety, social anxiety, or panic attacks may benefit from anti-anxiety medications. The most widely given short-acting anti-anxiety drugs are benzodiazepines. These medicines, however, are only intended for short-term usage, and long-term use can develop into dependence and addiction. As a result, different non-habit-forming anti-anxiety drugs could be prescribed instead of benzodiazepines.
- Mood stabilizers: Mood stabilizers are widely prescribed for persons with bipolar illness and other mood disorders to help them maintain a stable mood and avoid major mood swings, mania, and sadness.
- Antipsychotics are drugs that are used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic diseases. They can also be used to treat people who have bipolar disorder and are experiencing psychotic symptoms (often during a manic episode).
Support Groups and 12-Step Programs
People may want to examine a variety of mental health treatment choices in addition to psychotherapy and drugs. People receiving psychotherapy and taking medication may benefit from support groups and 12-step programs as complementary therapies.
People struggling with a variety of mental or behavioral health and substance misuse issues might join these groups, which include:
- Twelve-step programs employ a methodology based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Participants frequently work with a sponsor to finish the 12 steps. The sponsor is ready to assist the client with any additional challenges they may be facing during their recovery, such as cravings.
- Many programs include a spiritual component, but members are not required to be religious. Participants select a “higher power” to assist them in recovery. This higher power can be God, music, or nature, depending on the participant’s preferences.
- Although free and valuable, support groups and 12-step programs do not provide medical supervision or professional counseling.
Alternative and complementary therapies
In addition to established types of treatment like counseling and medication, complementary and alternative mental health treatment alternatives may be used. The following are some of the most prevalent complementary therapies:
- Yoga is a form of exercise that integrates the mind and body through movements and breathing techniques. Yoga enhances physical strength and flexibility while also delivering mental health benefits.
- Meditation can help with stress relief, anxiety relief, depression relief, and other mental health difficulties. Meditation techniques include mindfulness-based meditation, guided meditation, and basic breathing exercises.
- Nutrition: Diet has several mental health implications. Constantly monitoring a person’s food can enhance their overall mental health and well-being and some mental illness symptoms.
- Physical activity is an essential component of mental health treatment. People with mental problems should try to exercise for at least 30 minutes each day to relieve stress.
- Equine therapy is a treatment in which horses are used to help people with mental diseases such as autism, anxiety, and ADHD.