Any step to get mental health needs met is important. However, you may not know when moving from a weekly therapy session to a more comprehensive approach is critical. Let’s look at how to determine when inpatient treatment for mental health for yourself or someone you know is necessary. 

Inpatient treatment for mental health can be an instrumental way for a person with severe depression, anxiety, or trauma to begin healing. Criteria for knowing when you’d benefit most from a residential program can help you make an informed decision to seek treatment. Some of that criteria includes a history of self-harm or suicide attempts, frequent hospitalizations, substance use disorders, an unstable home environment, and arrests or other legal troubles. For people with a substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health disorder, a facility providing dual diagnosis treatment is strongly recommended.

When to Begin Inpatient Treatment for Mental Health

Inpatient treatment for mental health benefits people with a history of self-harm.

A person who routinely neglects self-care or intentionally hurts themselves is a candidate for inpatient treatment. This pattern of behavior tends to escalate rather than diminish. Treatment can help a patient learn what motivates the behavior of self-harm. Also, in individual therapy, they can learn to recognize patterns in their thinking and behavior when coping with feelings or to respond to environmental factors. 

Inpatient treatment is helpful for people with unmet mental health needs and frequent doctor’s visits or hospitalizations.

Doctor’s visits could come from seeking prescription medication from a primary care physician or “doctor shopping” to get more access to pills. Injuries from self-harm acts can lead to emergency room and urgent care visits, or hospitalization when an injury is more severe. Even legitimate prescriptions are only one tool in responding to mental health needs and should be supplemented with therapeutic approaches.  

Inpatient treatment for mental health is suitable for people whose untreated anxiety, depression, or trauma has been a factor in their physical and verbal aggression towards others.

Mental health issues can prompt people to act in aggressive ways towards others. It can be aggression towards loved ones, coworkers, or even strangers. Someone with a history of physical violence or verbal abuse may have learned no coping skills for their stress. These skills are an element in the evidence-based therapies in an inpatient treatment program.

Inpatient treatment is recommended for people with suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts.

Someone who regularly thinks about ending their life or makes an attempt to do it is in need of a mental health intervention. They may have become accustomed to low self-esteem and feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. Hoping for a good outcome and working on it alone is not sufficient to avoid future crises. Treatment helps people with suicidal thoughts prioritize their mental health needs daily and equips them with strategies to find healthy alternatives to painful feelings. 

Inpatient treatment for mental health is highly valuable for people with both mental health needs and substance use issues.

The link between undiagnosed mental health issues and substance use is a common one. Someone who’s attempted to get sober multiple times by focusing on quitting drugs or drinking may have been unsuccessful every single time. They may assume it’s the failure of the treatment itself. In reality, they have not addressed how coping with their mental health symptoms has been what leads to a relapse when they’re in recovery. 

Inpatient treatment is suitable for people with a low level of support at home or unstable home environments.

Restoring wellness of any kind requires a support system. Mental health is no different. For example, suppose someone is in a codependent relationship or dealing with daily friction at home. In that case, they’re less likely to be able to focus on working productively towards their own mental wellness. A residential mental health program stay puts them in a healthy, stable environment where support comes from both staff and fellow patients. 

Inpatient treatment can help people whose mental health issues have led to arrests or other legal troubles.

People can go years, even decades, with a clean record and begin to face legal troubles due to mental health disorders. Someone whose unmanaged anxiety or depression leads them to commit criminal acts, such as theft, burglary, or fraud, may face jail time or fines. In some cases, these legal troubles could affect their relationships, finances, employment, and standing in the community. Inpatient treatment may be a consequence of these legal issues, as ordered by a court. A person with mental health needs could be proactive instead and seek treatment to end the cycle of arrests and lawyers’ fees. 

Hanley Center at Origins opened its Residential Mental Health Program in May of 2022. This valuable program will meet the critical need for residential treatment for people who do not identify as having substance use disorders.

Origins Behavioral Healthcare is a well-known care provider offering a range of treatment programs targeting the recovery from substance use, mental health issues, and beyond. Our primary mission is to provide a clear path to a life of healing and restoration. We offer renowned clinical care for addiction and have the compassion and professional expertise to guide you toward lasting sobriety.

For information on our programs, call us today: 561-841-1296.