What Are the Levels of Mental Health Treatment?

About 57 million Americans deal with some form of mental illness in a given year. Mental health treatment depends largely on the severity of the illness and the unique needs of the patient.

Outpatient Treatment

• Outpatient mental health treatment assists patients whose symptoms may be less severe and more manageable. Outpatient treatment can include psychotherapy, group counseling and prescription medication.

Hospitalization

• If your symptoms are serious enough to cause injury to yourself or another person, it may become necessary to receive emergency mental health treatment. Emergency hospitalizations can stabilize a person suffering from psychosis or suicidal ideations. Typical treatment includes intensive individual and/or group therapy and medication.

Residential Treatment

• Residential treatment is a more structured form of mental health treatment as compared to inpatient treatment. There is less supervision and usually involves a combination of treatments that help reduce behaviors that interfere with a person's ability to function. Treatment includes support education, therapy and discharge planning.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

• About 50 percent of individuals with mental illness experience issues with substance abuse. Treatment for dual diagnosis, coexisting mental illnesses and substance abuse, tends to follow an integrated approach. It can include counseling, social support, psychotherapy, medication and relapse prevention.

Considerations

• When deciding an appropriate level of mental health treatment, make sure you understand your illness and discuss the types of support you will need during and after treatment.