Residential mental health facilities, some focusing only on those under the age of 18, provide constant supervision to individuals. Types of residential mental health facilities include those operated by the State and those privately owned and operated.
Residential mental health facilities offer a variety of treatment programs. One's individual needs determine what type of treatment program they receive, as people may respond differently to the same type of treatment. Types of treatment can include alternative, electroconvulsive, biomedical and cognitive therapies.
Alternative therapy
Alternative therapy, a somewhat controversial form of therapy, focuses on the interrelationship between the mind, body and spirit. Forms of alternative therapies include self-help groups where one can meet and discuss their issues and concerns with others and animal assisted therapies to help foster empathy and socialization skills.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Mental Health Services for more information on the various forms of alternative therapy.
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a controversial treatment that uses low voltage electrical stimulation to the brain to treat illnesses such as depression and some forms of schizophrenia. It is important to note that mental health professionals use this form of treatment only when other treatments prove unsuccessful.
Biomedical treatment
Biomedical therapies include psychopharmacology, which treats mental illness with medicine, electroconvulsive treatment, which involves the individual receiving low voltage electrical stimulation to the brain and psychosurgery, which entails brain surgery to sever neural pathways.
Cognitive therapy
The objective of cognitive therapy is to refocus one's thinking from those negative and distorted thoughts, feelings or behaviors to those that are more positive. Problem solving and behavioral change are instrumental to the success of this treatment.
Interpersonal psychotherapy
Interpersonal psychotherapy is often a successful treatment for depression. The focus of interpersonal psychotherapy sessions is to address those issues (such as prolonged feelings of grief) that affect one's relationships with others and develop resolution to those issues in order to improve one's family, social and work environments. The mental health field considers interpersonal psychotherapy sessions as a short-term treatment program that may require a maintenance program upon completion of the initial program.
University of Michigan Depression Center.
Crisis residential treatment services
Crisis residential treatment services provide support to children in an environment that is not sterile like typical hospital environments, but rather fosters family, culture and community. Services provided by crisis residential treatment services facilities include clinical services, such as individual, group and family therapy, medical services, such as psychiatric care and medication and therapeutic milieu, such as therapeutic arts and recreation, community involvement and behavior/emotional management.
Edgewood Center for Children and Families for more information on crisis residential treatment services.
