Take Action: Getting Mental Health Treatment

Did you know that 1 in 5 adults in the United States will have a diagnosable mental health condition each year and 54% will not receive necessary treatment? Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) in May is a chance to highlight the necessity of getting professional help for symptoms of mental health disorders. Mental health conditions can be disruptive, even resulting in detrimental life outcomes. However, treatment for symptoms of mental health issues can be truly lifesaving.

Substance use disorders (SUD) often accompany and exacerbate mental health disorders. This happens when people are trying to find a way to cope with the intense discomfort that they feel, so they self-medicate with drugs and/or alcohol. In fact, over 46 million people in the U.S. suffer from substance use disorders each year. If you or a loved one are struggling, know that supportive treatment options are accessible and covered by most insurance plans.

Why It’s Important to Get Mental Health Treatment

Treating mental health is just as important as treating physical health. Mental health is directly related to physical health. For example, when under great stress, the brain may send signals to the body that are similar to a virus, such as fatigue, headaches, stomach issues and an overall feeling of malaise. You may also experience symptoms that mimic a heart episode such as shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, sweating, dizziness or weakness.

Even without these physical symptoms, mental health disorders affect daily decision-making skills, judgment, productivity, motivation, routines and interactions with others. Energy, mood, sleep, self-esteem and self-image are negatively impacted when the brain cannot function optimally.

When mental health conditions are left untreated, people can take actions they might regret. This can be especially true when substance use is involved. Finding treatment for a co-occurring disorder of mental health and SUD can help detoxify the body and heal the mind.

Common Mental Health Conditions and Symptoms

The most diagnosed mental health condition is anxiety, with an estimated one-third of U.S. adults having experienced an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. Depression affects approximately 21 million Americans every year. Other conditions include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), borderline personality disorder (BPD) and schizophrenia.

Symptoms of mental health conditions vary based on the disorder, but many overlap, which is why it is vital to receive a diagnosis from an experienced medical professional to determine the best course of treatment. Someone with mental health disturbances may experience two or more of the following signs and symptoms:

Irritability, anger, rage or unpredictable temper tantrums
Panic attacks
Extreme fatigue
Sadness
Suicidal ideations and/or actions
Hyperactivity, hyperfocus or inability to focus altogether
Losing touch with reality (also known as detachment or psychosis)
Excessive worry over irrational fears
Flashbacks and/or nightmares
Hallucinations, paranoia and/or delusions
Swift and extreme mood changes
Increased or new substance use
Changes in hygiene, sleep, eating, sex and social habits

Mental Health Treatment Methods

Mental health conditions are commonly treated with medication and/or a form of therapy. Studies show that combining medication and psychotherapy achieves faster, longer-lasting results. Additionally, group and family support as well as holistic therapy methods play an important part in improving overall well-being and providing relief from the symptoms of mental health disorders.

Medication

Medications can improve mood stability. Additionally, prescription medications can help people achieve balance and relief when working through uncomfortable issues in therapy such as trauma or relationship situations. Depending on the mental health condition, medications may include antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) or benzodiazepines, atypical antipsychotics, or tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).

Therapy

Therapy, sometimes referred to as talk therapy, works to improve overall mood, communication skills and emotional regulation by rewiring the brain to better understand and manage thoughts, feelings, behaviors and reactions. Forms of individual therapy may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and/or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Therapy involves accepting life’s challenges, reframing harmful thoughts and learning how to talk to yourself with kindness and understanding.

Group Support

Group therapy and support groups are helpful ways to connect with and learn from others whose life experiences are similar. Being involved in group activities can be immensely helpful since loneliness and isolation are key components of mental health disorders. Feeling understood and accepted by others goes a long way in the healing process.

Holistic therapy

Art therapy, animal-assisted therapy, acupuncture, exercise, spending time in nature, mindfulness and meditation are examples of holistic therapy methods. They can be mood-boosting, grounding, hands-on ways to occupy your mind. Patients also benefit from implementing one or more of these methods in conjunction with psychotherapy and/or medication.

Levels of Care for Mental Health Conditions

A level of care is also referred to as a type of treatment program and you may be wondering which level of care is the best fit for your needs. At Discovery Mood & Anxiety, we offer three treatment levels for adults and adolescents: residential (RTC), partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient (IOP). When you seek treatment, an evaluation will be performed by a medical professional to ensure you or your loved one receives the proper care. This depends on the types of symptoms displayed or described and their severity. Sometimes, patients begin in residential treatment and then step down to partial hospitalization and finally intensive outpatient.

Residential Treatment Centers

RTC offer the highest level of care reserved for patients who need support with day-to-day life. Care is available around the clock in a welcoming, comfortable, home-like environment. The 24/7 supervision provided by licensed healthcare professionals is essential for severe symptoms like suicidal ideation, self-harm and mood instability.

Partial Hospitalization Treatment

PHP is suitable for patients who do not need 24-hour care. PHP involves meeting with a treatment team (usually a psychiatrist and therapist) to include individual, family and group counseling and medication management five to six hours per day, five days a week. Patients learn how to manage symptoms and utilize coping skills before returning home at the end of the day to put it all into practice.

Intensive Outpatient Treatment

IOP is most appropriate for patients who do not require hospitalization but still need more support than an individual outpatient provider can offer. Patients attend group and individual therapy sessions onsite typically for nine hours a week broken up into three-hour segments per day. This provides flexibility to continue working on skills they want to practice that help with their daily lives outside of treatment.

Virtual Treatment Options

In select states, online telehealth is offered from the comfort of home. Virtual IOP programming offers individual and group therapy sessions that are convenient for patients who need flexibility for their busy schedules, cannot escape home, work or school responsibilities, or lack reliable transportation. Therapists are uniquely trained to support virtual platforms and provide excellent care as they would in person.