Mental health rehabs are specialized treatment centers for the long-term management of psychologically-based issues. Just as a person would go to a hospital to mend a broken bone, mental health facilities are for the treatment of all things mental health-related, such as suicidal thoughts or severe depression.
A mental health rehab is not the same thing as a psychiatric ward. Although both deal with the treatment of mental health, they serve two distinct purposes and function in different ways. Mental health rehabilitation facilities actually have much more in common with drug addiction rehabs.
Both mental health and drug rehabs provide a controlled environment for comprehensive and long-term recovery, beyond immediate stabilization. Programs can vary in intensity–ranging from residential care to outpatient treatment or somewhere in between–and by the approaches to treatment. As such, finding the right mental health treatment facility involves many of the same questions.
What’s the difference between a mental health rehab and a psychiatric ward?
Mental health rehab centers and psychiatric wards both provide mental health care, but have key differences between the two are the types of aid they provide, admission conditions, facility settings, and duration of stay.
Psychiatric hospitals provide acute(short-term) mental health treatment, which focuses on stabilizing individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. These are individuals who demonstrate that they are a danger to themselves or others and need immediate intervention. Psychiatric facilities tend to be more hospital-like, are highly secure environments, and typically only provide care for a few days up to a week.
Mental health rehabs, on the other hand, are for longer-term treatment of mental health conditions. These centers focus on providing individuals with the tools for managing mental health issues via therapeutic care, such as a better understanding of triggers and behavioral patterns, or learning healthy coping mechanisms. Treatment programs typically range between 30 and 90 days (although they can be longer) and are a variety of program structures, from residential, outpatient, or a hybrid of the two.
The different levels of mental health care explained
Outpatient Treatment
The lowest intensity of care on the treatment continuum. Outpatient mental health treatment is best suited for those with mild to moderate mental health concerns and are looking for mild support in managing their day-to-day life. Treatment typically revolves around talk therapy one or twice a week, or possibly even biweekly, and group therapy sessions are common. Outpatient treatment is often the starting point for those seeking mental health care.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)
One level up from outpatient care is an intensive outpatient program (IOP). Group therapy is common, but often involves a greater focus on developing coping mechanisms. Meeting frequency is increased, typically between 3 and 5 meetings per week. IOP is a popular option as it offers enough flexibility for patients to continue attending work or school as normal, but greater support when talk therapy alone isn’t enough for managing mental health concerns.
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP)
Despite the name, partial hospitalization programs do not actually involve an overnight stay. The time involved in a PHP program is similar to that of going to school or work; around 6 hours a day for five days a week, spent at the facility but patients return to their own lodging at night. This arrangement is why PHP is often referred to as “day treatment”.
PHP offers an intermediary between the high-level care of a residential mental health program and the flexibility of outpatient. This type of program is recommended for those experiencing severe mental health symptoms that are directly and immediately affecting their ability to function in their day-to-day lives and would benefit from specialized treatment programs.
Residential Treatment
Also referred to as inpatient treatment, this is the highest level of care in the mental health treatment continuum. It involves the patient staying on-site at the facility for the entire length of the program, which is typically 30 to 90 days. This immersive experience involves 24/7 care but is naturally the most restrictive. It’s less common for individuals to start their mental health care journey at an inpatient mental health rehab. It is usually considered after lower levels of care have achieved the desired results.
How to find the right mental health treatment center
The goal of finding the right treatment program is finding the least intensive level of care that is able to support your mental health needs. It’s not uncommon for people to step “up” or “down” in levels of care when finding the right fit — or to adjust as they make progress in their mental health journey.
If you or a loved one is searching for a mental health rehab, talking to a mental health professional as your first step can give you a clearer idea of the type of support you need and the level of care best suited for you.