When a child’s experiencing a mental health crisis, parents want to find the best care for their child. Unfortunately, most parents aren’t educated on what mental health care is available. Their response is to either find a weekly therapist for their child, which may not be adequate enough care or admit them to the hospital: often a too drastic level of care. And both financially and emotionally, there are consequences to participating in too high a level of care. The problem is that these are the only options many families think they have.
Fortunately, there are levels of care between weekly outpatient and a hospitalization. This continuum of care helps families find the correct level of care for their child and is valuable information when your child’s in crisis. The levels of mental health care are below:
Level of Care Continuum
Outpatient Therapy
Outpatient therapy is the least intensive level of care and is often the starting point for people seeking help with mental health concerns. This level of care involves attending scheduled therapy sessions, usually once a week or bi-weekly. Outpatient therapy allows families to maintain their daily routines, such as work, school, or family responsibilities, while seeking treatment.
Best for:
- Individuals experiencing mild to moderate mental health symptoms (anxiety, depression, stress)
- Those able to manage day-to-day life but needing therapeutic support to improve their emotional well-being
Intensive Outpatient Program
As we say at Decade2Connect, “for when individual therapy isn’t enough.” An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) offers a higher level of care, typically 9-12 hours a week. IOPs are designed for individuals who need more frequent therapeutic interventions, but who do not require full-time inpatient treatment. IOPs may include a mix of individual, group, and family therapy, often incorporating skills training and psychoeducation. For adolescents, an IOP is typically attended in conjunction with school and daily activities.
Best for:
- Individuals with moderate to severe symptoms who need more structure and support
- People transitioning from inpatient care to regular outpatient therapy
Partial Hospitalizations Program
A step above IOP, a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is similar to a full hospitalization program but allow patients to go home in the evenings. Patients typically attend treatment five to six days a week for six to eight hours per day. PHPs offer comprehensive services, including medical oversight, psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and various therapies. The goal is to stabilize symptoms quickly while avoiding the need for inpatient hospitalization. PHP, as opposed to IOP, removes the child from school and often has an educational component to it.
Best for:
- Individuals who need daily support but can still live at home
- People experiencing acute symptoms, such as severe depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder, or those at risk of relapse after inpatient care
- Patients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders
Residential Treatment Center
Residential Treatment Centers (RTC) provide 24/7 support in a structured, home-like setting for individuals who require constant care. This level of treatment is often recommended for people with severe mental health conditions that prevent them from functioning in everyday life. In residential care, individuals live on-site and engage in a variety of therapeutic activities aimed at addressing their mental health needs holistically.
Best for:
- Individuals with severe mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, severe mood disorders, eating disorders)
- Individuals who need a structured environment to stabilize their condition
- Those who have not responded to lower levels of care or are at risk of harm without 24/7 support
Inpatient Hospitalization
The highest level of care is inpatient or hospitalization care, which is necessary for individuals in immediate crisis or facing life-threatening mental health issues. Patients are admitted to a hospital where they receive round-the-clock medical supervision, crisis stabilization, and intensive therapy. The primary goal of inpatient care is to manage acute symptoms and ensure the safety of the patient.
Best for:
- Individuals at risk of suicide or self-harm
- People experiencing severe psychosis, mania, or other mental health emergencies
- Those needing detox or stabilization in the context of substance use
The mental health care system is a complex one that families should be, but aren’t always, educated on. And without this education, many adolescents receive therapeutic services that aren’t actually helping them heal. Our goal at Decade2Connect is to educate families on the care options available for their family and help them decide which level of care is most appropriate for their child.
If your family needs support in finding proper care, please call a member of our team today. We are available to support your family through crisis into hope and healing.
