It can be difficult to watch a loved one struggle with mental illness. Whether the problem is a deep depression, drawn-out PTSD, or a combination of co-occurring disorders, what’s best for the person you care about is to get admitted into a mental health treatment program.
Living with poor mental health conditions can make it impossible for someone — and their loved ones — to live their best lives. If your loved one cannot select what type of care they wish to undergo, you can step in and find them the best possible care. Remember that people who don’t get adequate care when they need it most can suffer from a greater impairment, greater risk of disability, and poorer health in general. Contact The Arbor Behavioral Healthcare today if you’re looking for a mental health treatment center in Austin, Texas. Call 844.413.2690 or reach out to our team online.
What’s the Difference Between Mental Health and Behavioral Health?
Mental health involves a person’s well-being concerning their behaviors, biology, and environment. Behavioral health involves connecting a person’s behaviors and the health of their mind, body, and spirit. The biggest differentiation between the two terms is that behavioral health is an umbrella term that encompasses mental health.
Behavioral health isn’t just focused on a person’s behaviors, but how a person’s habits affect their mental and physical health and well-being. However, the term “mental health” seems to be more popular. Therefore, a behavioral health treatment center and a mental health facility can do the same.
Mental health conditions include anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. Behavioral health disorders include eating disorders, process addiction, and substance use disorders. Each of these conditions stems from destructive behaviors. Behavioral health disorders may include attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism in children. Behavioral health disorders involve a pattern of habits built up over time.
However, behavioral health disorders may also sometimes be called mental health disorders. Eating and substance use disorders are often referred to as both.
What Are Some Typical Mental Health Treatments?
A mental health treatment program is simply a treatment plan for a specific behavioral or mental health disorder comprised of various forms of care. Each mental health treatment program is also usually customized to fit the specific needs.
Some issues, such as substance use disorders, will always require a particular form of care — addiction treatment always begins with a detoxification process. Here are several forms of care that are typically part of most mental health treatment programs:
- Psychotherapy: This is also called counseling or talk therapy. Psychotherapy is one of the most common ways to treat mental health disorders. It involves the client and a therapist talking about the client’s problems. There are many types of psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
- Prescription medication: This is also a popular treatment method, although it should only be used if there’s no danger of developing an addiction. Medicines for mental health disorders change brain chemicals involved in emotions and thought patterns, but they can also be highly addictive. It’s also important to remember that medicines don’t cure psychiatric conditions. However, they can improve symptoms and make other forms of care more effective.
- Support groups: Going to support group meetings can help clients gain insight into their condition. These meetings can provide a safe space to start friendships, seek support, look for resources, and ask for tips on living with a particular mental health condition. They also help address the feelings of isolation that often come with mental health conditions.
- Hospital or residential treatment program: Sometimes, a mental health disorder can affect someone so badly that they need 24-hour medical care and supervision or admittance into a long-term program. This can happen when clients can’t take care of themselves or are in danger of self-harm.
What Should Clients Look for in a Mental Health Treatment Facility?
Suppose you’re considering getting a loved one admitted into a behavioral health treatment center. In that case, you must first make sure that they accept your preferred payment method or are compatible with your loved one’s health insurance plan. Make sure, also, that they can provide what’s best for your loved one. Look for the following when you’re assessing a mental health treatment facility:
- Residential treatment: This type of program almost always provides more chances of successful recovery, typically because it offers a greater range of treatment strategies. Studies show that one-on-one therapy administered in an outpatient setting is ineffective in managing mental health disorders over time.
- Evidence-based treatment: Look for mental health treatment centers that tell you exactly what kind of therapies they prefer, how these therapies benefit clients, and where to find scientific research that backs these strategies.
- Comprehensive assessment and customized treatment plan: Never choose a mental health treatment facility that treats your loved one as just another patient. Everyone is different, and each mental health treatment plan should be customized according to details from a comprehensive evaluation of a client’s overall health.
- Expert and licensed staff and collaborative care: Having several therapists on staff is not adequate. Choose a facility with staff members with experience and expert knowledge in different types of care and mental health disorders. The facility should also be one in which the staff practices collaborative care, so you know that everyone is working together in their clients’ best interests.
- Therapeutic community: Look for mental health treatment facilities that believe in fostering a therapeutic community, especially if your loved one is pursuing residential treatment. Members of a therapeutic community actively support each other, which provides another level of care. Social support is essential for good mental health, so having that community will significantly benefit your loved one.
Ready To Learn More About The Arbor’s Mental Health Treatment Programs?
Are you searching for a mental health treatment center in Austin, Texas? Contact The Arbor Behavioral Healthcare today by calling 844.413.2690 or reaching out to our team online.