People with serious mental health conditions or occasional severe symptoms need different levels of treatment throughout their lives. There may be times when they’re unable to function on their own. During these times, they’ll need to start with the highest level of appropriate treatment and then work their way down as they make progress. 

Emergency services are the first step in moments when a person is in immediate danger of hurting themselves or another person. Inpatient treatment in a psychiatric hospital is the next step below that. Inpatient treatment is where people get around-the-clock supervision, intensive treatments, and uninterrupted time to focus on feeling better.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about what inpatient treatment is like, how it’s different from a Residential Treatment Center (RTC), and where to get help for your teen in San Diego, California.

What’s the difference between residential and inpatient mental health treatment?

The main differences between inpatient and Residential Treatment are the environment and the level of treatment provided. Inpatient treatments take place in a psychiatric hospital, and Residential Treatment takes place in a private mental health facility. Inpatient treatment is for more acute situations when teens may be a danger to themselves or others. Inpatient treatment typically lasts less than a week or just long enough to stabilize the client. Residential Treatment takes place over a longer period of several months. Clients get more time in a more comforting atmosphere to work through severe symptoms and start functioning with a daily routine.

7 facets of inpatient mental health treatment for teens in San Diego

A stay in a psychiatric hospital helps clients get through moments of crisis and regain some stability. The primary goals are to reduce their symptoms and help them start functioning independently enough to transition to an RTC or a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP). This includes activities of daily living like feeding and bathing oneself and being able to participate in individual therapy and group activities.

The following are seven facets of inpatient mental health treatment for teens in San Diego:

• Safety — Safety is a top priority in inpatient care at a psychiatric hospital. Measures are in place to ensure a safe environment, and staff members are trained to monitor and support clients regularly. Staff have extensive safety training and check on clients frequently. 
• Intensive treatment — In inpatient units, clients get to see their individual therapist every day. They receive intensive psychiatric care, which includes medication, psychotherapy, group therapy and psychosocial rehabilitation. Some facilities may provide other forms of treatment as well, such as art or recreation therapy.
• Nursing support — Clients in inpatient treatment have 24-hour nursing care to manage symptoms as they come up. They also administer medication and help clients with other medical conditions. 
• Time to heal — One of the main aspects of inpatient treatment is uninterrupted time to focus on one’s mental health with a high amount of support and supervision. During unstructured time, clients can reflect and journal, work on a hobby, or walk around the facility with a staff member.
• Peer support — Clients are encouraged to participate in group therapy sessions during inpatient treatment. Group treatments are usually focused on skill building and peer support.
• Activities — Inpatient treatment usually offers opportunities for exercise and recreation. Clients may participate in art or music therapy or play board games.
• Meals and rest — Caring for one’s physical health is an important part of inpatient treatment. Clients receive three healthy meals per day and have plenty of time to rest.

Find your child’s next steps after inpatient treatment at our Lightfully Teen facilities in San Diego

Inpatient treatment is a short-term solution for your teen’s most challenging moments. They’ll have all the support they need to recover from periods of crisis. Once they’re discharged, the journey to long-term healing begins. Their next step may be an RTC or PHP, and we offer both of these levels of care in San Diego. Learn more about our Encinitas RTC and our Carlsbad PHP/IOP facility.

At Lightfully, we ask questions about your teen’s whole life during the admission process, not just their symptoms. We create a personalized treatment plan for each client that helps them build up positive protective factors for long-term mental wellness. We also incorporate group treatments and family therapy sessions to help teens balance social well-being with their individual healing process.

Are you planning your teen’s next steps after inpatient mental health treatment in San Diego? Get in touch with our Admissions Concierge Team. Let’s talk about your teen’s healing process and what kinds of support they need right now.