How long will I need to be in treatment? This is a common question for people who are beginning to receive care for mental health concerns. Many people understandably hope they can quickly resolve the issues that have impacted their lives. But for individuals who have been struggling with particularly complex challenges, long-term mental health facilities may offer the best path toward a brighter future.
What Are Long-Term Mental Health Facilities?
The time people remain in treatment for a mental health concern can vary widely depending on a variety of factors.
For example, the typical length of stay in inpatient mental health programs (which are usually designed to address immediate crises and help patients who are experiencing acute symptoms) often ranges from seven to 14 days.
At the residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient levels, it’s common for people to remain in treatment for several weeks or months. Treatment centers that provide more than 30 days of care are often described as long-term mental health facilities.
Extended treatment experiences may be ideal for people who have been struggling to make appropriate progress. People can also benefit from additional care to prepare them to make a successful transition out of the program.
What to Expect at a Long-Term Treatment Center
When you receive care at a reputable long-term mental health treatment center, here are a few examples of what to expect:
- Personalized treatment – The center’s staff should take the time to get to know you as a unique individual. In addition, they can help you define what success looks like to you. Finally, they will provide the customized services that can best prepare you to make sustained progress.
- Achievable goals – Your treatment team should help you establish measurable and achievable goals. Then, throughout your time at the long-term mental health treatment center, you can assess your progress and see tangible results of your hard work.
- Aftercare planning – No matter how long you remain in treatment, it will likely be just a small part of your journey toward improved health. Robust aftercare planning services will connect you with essential sources of ongoing support.
Types of Mental Health Disorders Treated
Long-term mental health treatment facilities offer care for people who developed a variety of mental health concerns, such as:
- Anxiety disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Depressive disorders
- Dual diagnosis (mental illness and co-occurring addiction)
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
- Anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders
- Borderline personality disorder
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Schizophrenia
Please note that the list above does not include every mental health disorder that you can get help for at a long-term mental health facility. The disorders above are examples of the most common mental illnesses that prompt people to seek assistance at long-term centers.
If you or someone that you care about has developed a disorder that is not listed here, please contact us. If we aren’t able to meet your needs, we can refer you to a trusted long-term treatment center near you.
Benefits of Long-Term Mental Health Facilities
Long-term mental health facilities can offer an array of benefits, including the following:
- Safe and supportive environment – If you take part in residential care at a long-term mental health center, you will be in a supportive place under the care of professionals who are committed to keeping you safe. Long-term residential care allows you to focus fully on your treatment and your healthier future. It minimizes the stresses and pressures of everyday life.
- Comprehensive care – In a long-term residential facility, your care won’t consist solely of therapies and other clinical services. You may also receive instruction in healthy eating habits and exercise regimens. You can continue to incorporate these features into your life after you complete your time in treatment. Long-term treatment gives you the time to make the lifestyle changes that will help you manage your symptoms and maintain improved quality of life.
- Meaningful connections – Untreated mental health disorders can isolate you from family members, friends, and others who care about you. A long-term mental health facility can help you learn how to resolve conflicts with loved ones and establish healthy new relationships. Group therapy sessions, which are common elements of care in many long-term treatment centers, can be excellent forums in which to share support with other people who have had similar experiences and who are working toward a common goal.
- Balanced approach – When you receive long-term care via a partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient program, you will only need to be at the center when treatment is in session. During non-treatment hours, you can return to your home or to a supported residence. Depending on your needs and the center’s treatment schedule, you may be able to work part-time, take part in volunteer activities, or attend classes. In other words, you will have ample opportunities to practice your new symptom-management and relapse-prevention skills in a real-world environment. Then, during your next treatment session, you can discuss your experiences and receive focused feedback. This balanced approach can yield significant benefits.
Learn About Our Long-Term Mental Health Facilities in California & Arizona
If you’ve been seeking long-term mental health care in California or Arizona, Montare at the Valley can help. We offer extended care options in several convenient locations for adults whose lives have been disrupted by anxiety, depression, other mental health disorders, and co-occurring addiction. Contact us today to learn more about our long-term mental health treatment options. Our team is ready and willing to help.
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