mission prep logo
GET HELP
mission prep logo

is residential treatment right for your teen?

Author:
Jemma Strain
Jemma Strain
B.S. Psychology
Editor:
Emma Loker
Emma Loker
B.S.
CALL (866) 901-4047
INSURANCE VERIFICATION

Deciding when to seek inpatient mental health care for a child can be a life-changing choice. If you’re concerned about a teenager’s mental well-being, you’re likely distressed and confused. For this reason, we aim to answer the question “Does my child need inpatient mental health treatment?” as clearly as possible.

It may be time to think about inpatient treatment if a teen’s mental health is impairing their ability to function day to day, in activities relating to school, home, recreation, and relationships. If this is the case for your child, professional guidance and support can help you understand the ins and outs of inpatient treatment. 

However, if you’re unsure if residential treatment is the right choice for your child, this article can help. It discusses…

  • What residential mental health care for teens is
  • How to identify the need for residential care for children
  • Recognizing when outpatient care isn’t enough
  • Inpatient treatment options for kids
  • When to seek inpatient mental health care for a child
Recognizing When a Child Needs Residential Mental Health Treatment

What Is Residential Mental Health Care for Teens?

Residential mental health care for teens is for families who can’t cope with mental health conditions at home. These facilities provide 24/7 supervision and support, often to protect a teen’s safety. For example, a teen might pose a risk to their safety if they show signs of risky behaviors such as self-harm or suicidal thoughts. However, residential care is also suitable for teenagers who have out-of-control emotions and behaviors. 

If you’re worried about your child’s mental health, the thought of residential mental health care might sound daunting. A lot of people assume that these facilities are overly-clinical or isolating places. However, residential care facilities aim to provide nurturing, supportive, and connecting experiences for teens and their families. The safety these environments provide can allow a teen to heal, grow, and thrive. 

If you’re unsure whether residential care is the right choice for your child, understanding the benefits could ease your concerns. 

The Benefits of Residential Mental Health Care for Teens

Residential mental health care for teens can…1-3

Provide safety and structure:

Inpatient care can provide a sense of stability, away from the challenges of daily life. The daily routine typically involves therapy, group sessions, therapeutic activities, and recreation. This structure provides predictability, which, during a time of change and uncertainty, can be highly comforting and transformative for a teen.

Allow for deep exploration:

Inpatient treatment is therapy-focused, allowing a teen to understand where their symptoms come from and how to cope with them in healthy ways. Further, residential care is multidisciplinary, meaning that all aspects of a teen’s health are cared for. 

Significantly reduce symptoms:

Multiple studies show that a comprehensive approach to care can lead to big improvements in a teen’s symptoms and outlook for the future. 

Promote connection:

Even though people often assume that inpatient care is isolating, it actually promotes a sense of community. Group sessions, bonding with other teens in care, and family involvement, mean that a teen can feel supported from all angles. This way, they can feel more understood and less judged about their condition. 

Increase strengths:

Residential mental health care for teens focuses on building skills for coping with life outside of care. As a result, teens can develop stress management and relationship-building skills that can boost their well-being in the long term.

Improve family relationships:

Parental involvement and engagement in the treatment process can improve the whole family bond. As a result, any relationship patterns contributing to mental health issues can be resolved, leading to greater life satisfaction for all.

In addition to these benefits, residential mental health care for teens is tailored to their unique needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to mental health, so a child and their recovery goals are put at the center of their treatment. 

Is Residential Treatment Right for Your Teen?

Many teenagers have good mental health. However, research shows that almost 50% of teenagers will experience the symptoms of a mental health condition at some point. While many of these teens’ symptoms can be managed with outpatient treatment, others might need a more immersive and intensive form of care.4

The first step in identifying the need for residential care for children is getting a diagnosis. If your child doesn’t have a diagnosis, you can contact your doctor to discuss their symptoms and concerns. Medical and mental health professionals can talk to you about residential care for children and whether this is appropriate for your child’s needs. 

With this information in mind, it can still help to understand the signs your child needs residential treatment. These include the criteria professionals use to diagnose mental health conditions. 

Signs Your Child Needs Residential Treatment

Just as how every teenager is unique, so too are the signs of mental health conditions. Thus, the signs your child needs residential treatment can vary. If you’re uncertain, it’s best to talk to a professional for advice. 

In the meantime, the following questions can help you determine the signs your child needs residential treatment.

1. Do They Have Emotional, Physical, and Behavioral Symptoms?

Different mental health conditions can have varying symptoms, however, if your child is showing signs of emotional, behavioral, or physical changes, this could indicate an underlying problem. For example, does your child…5

  • Have a persistent low mood?

  • Seem hopeless?

  • Struggle to sleep?

  • Have weight changes?

  • Show a lack of interest in activities they once enjoyed?

  • Struggle to concentrate?

  • Complain of physical issues, such as unexplainable stomach pains, headaches, or muscle tension?

  • Frequently seem irritable, angry, or tearful?

  • Isolate themselves from family and friends? 

  • Have a drop in academic performance?

  • Show risky behaviors, such as self-harm or talk about suicide?

If your child regularly shows a number of these signs, it may be time to seek professional support and discuss the option of residential treatment. 

2. Are You Struggling to Support Them at Home?

Parents are an excellent – and important – form of support for teens with mental health conditions. However, generally speaking, parents are also not trained mental health professionals. This might mean that you’re finding it hard to help your child with their feelings, thoughts, and actions at home. 

3. Have They Previously Tried Outpatient Treatment?

If your teen has previously tried outpatient or intensive treatment but found that they didn’t get any relief from their symptoms, it may be time to consider a more comprehensive approach. Residential care focuses on treating all aspects of a teen’s well-being and removes them from the challenges of daily life, meaning they are more likely to improve and achieve long-term recovery. 

4. Are You Concerned About Their Safety?

You can’t keep an eye on your child 100% of the time. If your teen shows risky behaviors, such as self-harm or talking about suicide, you may, understandably, be highly concerned for their safety. Residential mental health care for teens provides 24/7 monitoring and care, ensuring that they can’t pose a risk to their well-being.

Recognizing When Outpatient Care Isn’t Enough

Mental health conditions and diagnoses can shift and change over time. Sometimes, this change can be positive – treatment can lead to improvements in well-being. However, research shows that when treatment isn’t either effective or intensive enough, mental health can worsen.6,7

If your child has been receiving outpatient treatment for their mental health, but they’re not showing signs of improvement, this may mean that this form of treatment isn’t intensive or wide-reaching enough. In this case, your child might feel “stuck” in their mental health problems and you may be feeling lost about what steps to take next. 

When outpatient care isn’t enough, it may be time to consider moving up in the level of care to residential mental health treatment. Shifting in this direction can dramatically improve your child’s mental health and benefit their prospects for the future. 

Inpatient Treatment Options for Kids

If you’re concerned about your child’s mental health and are considering inpatient treatment options, you’re likely feeling very anxious and distressed. However, recognizing that inpatient treatment is needed means that you can take steps to protect your child’s well-being. Residential care for teen mental health conditions can provide a huge sense of relief, improve symptoms, and boost outcomes for the future – especially when parents are involved in treatment.8

After your child receives a mental health diagnosis, they will be assessed by a mental health professional who will discuss appropriate treatment options based on their unique needs. If your child has severe symptoms or poses a risk to their own well-being, they will talk to you about residential treatment and tailoring a treatment package. 

Your child’s opinions and goals for recovery will be considered at every stage of this process – empowering them toward a strengths-based recovery. The following treatment options will be explained to them and delivered as part of a residential program. 

Therapy Options in Residential Mental Health Care for Teens:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):

CBT is commonly delivered as part of residential mental health care for teens as it’s proven to help improve the signs of a wide range of conditions. It works by targeting how thoughts and actions are connected, identifying negative patterns, and helping teens build healthy ways of coping.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR):

During residential care, your child may come to understand that their previous experiences, such as trauma, could be feeding into their mental health problems. EMDR is an effective way of treating trauma as it changes how memories are stored in the brain, helping a teen move past trauma and form more positive beliefs.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS):

If your teen has previously not responded to outpatient treatment, the option of TMS may be discussed with them. TMS is useful in treating treatment-resistant mental health conditions. It’s a non-invasive therapy that uses magnetic fields to activate nerve cells in targeted areas of the brain – improving outlook and mood. 

Interpersonal Therapy:

Often, mental health conditions can be triggered by and lead to problems in relationships with family and friends. Healthy bonds in relationships can be protective of mental health, so interpersonal therapy can help a teen work through issues and figure out better ways of coping to improve their mental health.

Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT):

MBT combines elements of CBT with non-judgmental mindfulness techniques to help teens combat negative emotions and moods. Through MBT, your child can learn how to not fall into a negativity cycle and build more positive self-beliefs.

Group Therapy:

Group therapy as part of residential mental health treatment can provide a safe, supportive space in which teens can share their experiences with people their own age. These groups can also help a teen learn healthy ways of coping and feel more understood.

How to Recognize When a Child Needs Residential Mental Health Treatment

When to Seek Inpatient Mental Health Care for a Child

If you’re concerned about your child’s mental health and safety, it’s important not to wait to seek help. Mental health conditions can seriously impact a teen’s emotional and physical well-being and can worsen over time if left untreated. 

Choosing the right residential treatment center might feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to. Mission Prep’s team of trained professionals is available 24/7 to answer any questions or concerns you may have about inpatient depression treatment. 

We offer residential mental health treatment in a variety of locations to address the complex needs of teenagers with emotional, behavioral, and mental challenges. These programs provide safe, inclusive, and tailored housing for teens, ensuring they can focus on the therapeutic environment and receive the support they need to heal and recover. Contact us today for more information or advice – we’re always available to help, even if you decide that our services aren’t right for your needs. 

References

  1. Zambrowicz, R., Stewart, J. G., Cosby, E., Esposito, E. C., Pridgen, B., & Auerbach, R. P. (2019). Inpatient Psychiatric Care Outcomes for Adolescents: A Test of Clinical and Psychosocial Moderators. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 4(4), 357. https://doi.org/10.1080/23794925.2019.1685419
  2. Castrellón, E. (2021, July 15). Why isn’t outpatient treatment working? Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ie/blog/mind-matters-from-menninger/202107/why-isnt-outpatient-treatment-working
  3. Scheff, S. (2023, November 10). How residential treatment centers can help teens. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/shame-nation/202311/how-residential-treatment-centers-can-help-teens
  4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Mental illness. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml
  5. Chung, R. J. (2023). Teen mental health: How to know when your child needs help. HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/Pages/Mental-Health-and-Teens-Watch-for-Danger-Signs.aspx
  6. Seery, C., & Young, C. (2022). How Does It Feel to Have One’s Psychiatric Diagnosis Altered? Exploring Lived Experiences of Diagnostic Shifts in Adult Mental Healthcare. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 820162. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.820162
  7. Van Dorn, R. A., Kosterman, R., Williams, J. H., Chandler, K., Young, M. S., Catalano, R. F., & Hawkins, J. D. (2010). The Relationship between Outpatient Mental Health Treatment and Subsequent Mental Health Symptoms and Disorders in Young Adults. Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 37(6), 484. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-010-0291-2
  8. Ise, E., Schröder, S., Breuer, D., & Döpfner, M. (2015). Parent–child inpatient treatment for children with behavioural and emotional disorders: A multilevel analysis of within-subjects effects. BMC Psychiatry, 15, 288. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-015-0675-7

WE ACCEPT MOST MAJOR INSURANCES

aetna logo
anthem logo
healthnet logo
firsthealth logo
beacon logo
bluecross blueshield logo
magellan health logo

We Also Work With Many Other Insurance Carriers

PLEASE REACH OUT TO VERIFY YOUR BENEFITS

ARE YOU OR A
LOVED ONE STRUGGLING

with anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns?

Find out if Mission Prep is right for you by reaching out to us and speaking with one of our admissions representatives.

CALL (866) 901-4047
VERIFY YOUR INSURANCE
mission prep logo

QUICKLINKS

Facilities

What We Treat

What Makes Us Different

Privacy Policy

Phone: 866-845-1391

Email: info@missionprephealthcare.com

Corporate Office: 30310 Rancho Viejo Rd. San Juan Capistrano CA 92675

Facebook Instagram Tiktok

Copyright 2024 © Mission Prep Healthcare. All Rights Reserved