When Outpatient Therapy Isn't Enough: Understanding Inpatient Mental Health Care

Sometimes weekly therapy sessions just aren't enough.

Outpatient treatment is like applying band-aids to a dam with holes. Clients with serious mental illness experience too many setbacks and that cookie-cutter 1x/week appointment isn't enough. Here's the truth: Every year, millions of people reach this breaking point. When they do, seeking inpatient mental health treatment is the safe and wise choice. NAMI states that over 1.65 million inpatient hospitalizations happened in the U.S. in 2022 due to mental health and substance use issues. This means 1.65 million people had conditions that required more intense treatment than weekly sessions.

Here's what's inside:

• What Is Inpatient Mental Health Care?

• Signs Outpatient Therapy Isn't Enough

• How Residential Treatment Actually Works

• Choosing the Right Program

What Is Inpatient Mental Health Care? Inpatient mental health treatment refers to treatment where someone resides at a treatment facility and receives round-the-clock care from professionals. This is also known as residential treatment. They both operate in much the same way - patients reside overnight and receive 24 hour care from physicians, nurses, therapists and counsellors. Programs such as inpatient mental health treatment in Phoenix provide care and support for patients in an environment away from home and triggers. They are ideal for treating:

• Severe depression

• Anxiety disorders

• Bipolar disorder

• PTSD

• Suicidal thoughts or self-harm

• Co-occurring substance use issues

It's a simple concept. If a person is struggling to function safely at home, they need time away from daily life to solely focus on recovery (100%). Inpatient mental health treatment allows patients to focus on therapy, medication management, group support and life skills in one safe environment. Pretty powerful, right?

Signs Outpatient Therapy Isn't Enough: How do you know when outpatient care isn't working? Sometimes it's blatant. Sometimes it creeps up slowly. Watch for these red flags:

• Symptoms are not improving. Months of therapy have gone by and it keeps getting worse. This trend is cause for concern. Outpatient treatment should be showing improvement.

• Daily life is unraveling. Difficulty maintaining employment, keeping house, or relationships. Weekly therapy isn't enough to manage the mental health condition.

• Suicidal thoughts or self-harm. These are emergencies. Someone who is harming themselves requires 24/7 care.

• Substance use has gotten out of control. Mental illness and substance abuse often correlate. Inpatient programs can address both simultaneously.

• Antidepressants aren't working. There are times when patients need doctors observing them and tweaking meds. It's easier to do that in an inpatient facility.

Here's some numbers to help illustrate that. Approximately 25% of adults who suffer from any mental illness expressed that they had an unmet need for treatment in the past few years. Lots of these individuals would qualify for more intensive services, yet never receive them. Catch them early, and it can change everything. Get someone into appropriate care quickly and they can recover quickly.

How Residential Treatment Actually Works: Residential treatment programs have a clear structure. There's a reason for that… Routine can provide an anchor for mental health. When all else in life is up in the air, a daily routine is always something to count on. A typical day in inpatient mental health care might include:

• Morning check-ins with staff

• Individual therapy sessions

• Group therapy

• Medication management

• Wellness activities (like yoga or art therapy)

• Life skills workshops

• Evening reflection or journaling

Patients don't just sit in rooms all day long. They work on their recovery from dawn to dusk.

Here's the best part: Patients have access to an entire team of experts. Psychiatrists handle medications. Therapists focus on underlying issues. Nurses offer medical assistance. Counselors facilitate group therapy. This team approach is much harder to pull off in outpatient care.

Stay can also vary. Some patients only have to be there for a few weeks. Some patients may need to stay for a few months. It all depends on the severity and how they respond to treatment. Even better, most residential programs include family involvement. Family members can learn how to help once the patient returns home. Time away from work, arguments, bad relationships, and everyday stress allows the brain to hit the reset button. Patients often report that this "reset" has been the largest game-changer in their recovery.

Setting is important as well. The majority of residential programs are located in serene areas, far from the hustle and bustle of city life. Fresh air, nature and tranquility all contribute to recovery. It may seem like a small thing, but a peaceful environment is surprisingly powerful while working on mental health.

Choosing the Right Program: Not all inpatient programs are created equal. Choosing the wrong one can destroy lives. Here are some factors to consider:

• Accreditation and licensing. Confirm that the facility is licensed and accredited by reputable organisations.

• Treatment approach. Programs may use different models of therapy. Some are based on cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). Others may use dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), trauma-informed approaches or holistic programs. Tailor to the individual.

• Staff qualifications. Consider what credentials the psychiatrists, therapists and nurses have. The higher the qualifications, the better the care will be.

• Specialisations. Some facilities have expertise in dual diagnosis (mental health/substance use). Others specialise in trauma, eating disorders, certain age groups, etc.

• Aftercare planning. Excellent programs don't simply release patients into the wind. They formulate a solid plan for continued care after departure.

Cost is something else that most families are concerned about. Find out what insurance will cover. Also ask the facility about different payment options. There are only approximately 1,288 hospital inpatient mental health facilities in the U.S., so sometimes choices are limited depending on where you live. Don't settle; take the time to find a good fit.

Final Thoughts: Reaching out for inpatient mental health care is not a sign of failure. Admitting into an inpatient treatment facility isn't a weakness. It's proof of knowing what isn't working and making strides to improve. Every year, millions of individuals enter treatment facilities and walk out better than before. To quickly recap:

• Inpatient care provides 24/7 support in a structured environment

• Signs that outpatient isn't enough include worsening symptoms and safety concerns

• Residential treatment combines therapy, medication and life skills under one roof

• Choosing the right program matters - look at accreditation, approach and aftercare

Don't wait until a loved one is suffering and outpatient care is no longer working. The correct inpatient mental health program can make all the difference.