Mental health is an epidemic in America. The pandemic didn’t help matters, as most teenagers and young adults felt an increase in anxiety and depression, and children weren’t allowed to socialize in a normal setting, leaving them in stressful isolation and missed educational opportunities. Many Americans struggle with mental health issues every day, and many need and ask for help. It can be difficult to suffer from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or other common mental health issues alone, and there’s no shame in asking for a helping hand.
There are different options when asking for help as well. Solutions could look like regular weekly counseling, same-day treatment centers, or residential treatment centers for those that have a larger mountain to climb to regain control of their mental health. All of these solutions provide different treatment methods and some may take much longer than others, but all have been effective in approving the lives of struggling individuals.
When it comes to battling common issues like anxiety and depression, studies show adolescents may be disproportionately affected compared to other groups. In fact, approximately 20 percent of adolescents and teenagers will struggle with depression before reaching adulthood. In the social media age, excess pressure is put upon kids and young adults to fit in as well.
In this blog, the goal is to break down the differences between same-day and residential treatment centers as potential solutions to mental health issues. We’ll examine what life is like inside a residential treatment center, what a same-day appointment at a treatment center includes, and more.
Same-Day Treatment Centers
As the name suggests, same-day treatment centers allow for a daily treatment program where a patient will come in from home, receive their treatment, and then return to their home afterward. This is generally considered outpatient treatment, and it can look like personal counseling, group therapy, or other meditation, medication, or exercises aimed to relieve stress and improve mental health.
These treatment options generally take place in a community mental health center or a private practice firm. Same-day treatment centers can prescribe medication for patients, develop a strategy for treatment over time, and provide relief from certain mental health conditions. This is the most common form of a treatment center for mental health.
Some benefits of same-day treatment centers include:
- The ability to come and go, and adjust the frequency of visits
- Less expensive than residential treatment centers
- The ability to prescribe medication and lay out short- and long-term treatment plans
- Flexible with a patient’s personal and professional schedule
- Scalable treatment options
- Smooth transition to long-term recovery while interacting with the world
Residential Treatment Centers
In this model, patients actually live and reside in the treatment centers for a certain period of time. These centers are often used for long-term treatment options, such as rehab from substance abuse, trying to heal past some form of trauma, or if a patient has severe symptoms of a mental illness like anxiety or depression.
Other than having severe, specific disorders or mental health diagnoses, some other factors that may lead to residential treatment include:
- If you’ve tried lower levels of care with little progress or relief from your mental health issues or symptoms
- If you a lack sufficient support systems at home or in the community
- If there are potential safety concerns, such as self-harm urges or tendencies
- If same-day treatment centers have struggled to determine a person’s diagnosis,
In a residential treatment center, mental health professionals can take time to gain a better understanding of the patient’s condition. But these options are often expensive and require a decent amount of time for a patient’s recovery.
Some benefits of residential treatment centers include:
- 24/7 treatment and support from mental health professionals
- The ability to hit the reset button completely
- No temptation from the outside world
- Frequent sessions and attention
- Consistent structure and routine, which helps patients leave their old habits behind and develop new, positive treatment and coping solutions
- Different modalities of therapy
- A holistic approach
How Long Does One Stay In A Residential Treatment Center?
There’s no one answer to this question because all patients have different mental health struggles, recovery times, coping mechanisms, and more. It could range from anywhere between a week to several months, depending on the battle a patient is facing. The average treatment program lasts between three weeks to a few months, but it all depends on the condition of the patient.
Common issues patients look to address in residential treatment centers include:
- Major depressive disorder.
- Bipolar disorder.
- Anxiety and panic disorders.
- Self-harm behaviors.
- Trauma-related disorders.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Emerging personality disorder.
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- Attachment-related disorders.
- Grief and loss.
- Autism spectrum disorders.
- Gender dysphoria.
- And more.
How Do I Know Which Treatment Option to Choose?
If you’re unsure about which treatment option might be right for you, you can schedule a consultation with a certified healthcare professional to address your concerns. You may find that weekly counseling is sufficient enough to address your mental health issues, or you may feel the need to check into a residential treatment center. Both are common, normal practices for average people; there is no shame in looking for better mental health.
Have hard conversations with your family, friends, doctors, mental health professionals, and with yourself. You may be surprised at how much a specific option can do for you.
Conclusion – Comparing & Contrasting Same-Day Vs. Residential Treatment Centers
Both same-day and residential treatment centers are proven to be effective at addressing mental health issues, there are benefits to each option. Same-day centers allow for more “normalcy” in your day-to-day life and take up less time than residential treatment centers. But residential centers may provide stronger treatment options for your unique condition or situation.
Be sure to speak with your family and a mental health expert before making your decision, and always remember to ask for help if you feel you need it. We all need help from time to time. Both same-day and residential treatment options may provide you with the relief you didn’t know existed.
