More About Mental Health & Depression Treatment Centres
Every year, about one in five adults in the U.S. experience a mental illness.1 Mental health treatment can help.
Mental health treatment is structured care for a range of conditions such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
While treatment looks different for everyone, mental health treatment centres may combine approaches such as behavioral therapy in group and individual settings and medication management to help people manage their symptoms and improve overall daily functioning.2
Who Mental Health Treatment May Help
Mental health treatment can support people with a wide range of needs, including:
- People experiencing anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD, or other mental health disorders.
- People experiencing mood disorders, which include conditions such as depression and bipolar disorder.
- People with eating disorders or other conditions that may benefit from specialized mental health care.
- People who haven't seen enough improvement with outpatient therapy alone.
- People who may benefit from more structure and support than weekly therapy sessions can provide.
- Adolescents and adults who need care tailored to their age, symptoms, and stage of life.
- Family members and loved ones who want to better understand treatment options and available levels of care.
- People navigating both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder, also known as co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis.3
What to Expect During Mental Health Treatment
Mental health treatment typically begins with an assessment to better understand your symptoms, needs, and goals. Your care team can use this information to develop a personalized treatment plan based on your specific needs, which may evolve as you progress through treatment.
Levels of Care
Different levels of care offer varying amounts of structure and support:4
- Inpatient or residential treatment typically takes place in a hospital or home-like setting and provides structured care for people with more acute mental health needs. Residential treatment centres provide structured support, while specific services and program structures vary by facility.
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) provide structured care for much of the day while allowing people to live at home or in supportive housing.
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) offer fewer treatment hours than PHPs and may provide more flexibility around work, school, or other responsibilities.
- Outpatient treatment generally involves less frequent care and may be a starting point or provide continued support after a more intensive program.
Some people may move between levels of care as their needs change. For example, someone may transition from a more structured residential program to outpatient care as they make progress.
Therapies and Treatment Approaches
Your treatment plan may include a combination of evidence-based approaches based on your needs. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and is supported by research for conditions such as anxiety and depression.2
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) teaches skills for managing difficult emotions and may be used for certain mental health conditions. For PTSD and trauma, care may include trauma-focused therapies or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).5
Group therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy may also be part of treatment, providing opportunities for peer support and family involvement. Depending on the program and your needs, care may also include psychiatric evaluation and medication management. A psychiatrist or other qualified provider may help assess symptoms, prescribe or adjust medications when appropriate, and monitor how you respond to treatment.
Life Skills and Ongoing Support
Some programs also incorporate practical life skills, such as developing healthy routines, managing stress, communicating effectively, and navigating daily responsibilities.
As treatment progresses, your care team may also help plan for continued support after the program ends. This may include stepping down to outpatient therapy, ongoing medication management, support groups, or other services based on your needs.
How Long Does Mental Health Treatment Last?
The length of mental health treatment varies based on factors such as your symptoms, level of care, treatment goals, and progress. Some people may need short-term, intensive support, while others benefit from ongoing outpatient care. Your treatment team can help determine an appropriate timeline and adjust your care as your needs change.
How to Choose a Mental Health Treatment Centre
When comparing mental health treatment centres, consider whether the program has experience treating your specific condition and offers the level of care and therapies that fit your needs. Some centres specialize in certain conditions or populations, such as veterans, while others treat a broader range of mental health concerns.
It can also help to consider:
- Licensing and accreditation: Look for appropriate state licensing and accreditation from organizations such as The Joint Commission or the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), which set standards for quality and safety.
- Qualified treatment professionals: Ask about the credentials and experience of the treatment team, which may include psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, social workers, and other mental health professionals.
- Levels of care: Consider whether the centre offers the level of support you need, such as residential, PHP, IOP, or outpatient treatment. For people with co-occurring substance use disorders, some programs may also offer or coordinate detox when needed.
- Treatment approaches: Ask which therapies and services are available and how treatment plans are tailored to each person's condition, needs, and goals.
- Insurance and cost: Confirm whether the centre accepts your insurance, whether it is in-network, and what out-of-pocket costs you may be responsible for.
- Continuing care: Ask how the centre helps you prepare for life after treatment, including outpatient therapy, medication management, support groups, or other forms of ongoing care.
As you compare options, asking questions about a centre's approach, staff, and services can help you better understand whether a program aligns with your treatment needs and preferences.
Related Treatment Approaches
- Anxiety treatment: May include psychotherapy, medication management, and other forms of support to help manage anxiety symptoms and improve daily functioning.
- Bipolar disorder treatment: May combine medication management, psychotherapy, and ongoing support to help manage mood changes and support long-term stability.
- PTSD treatment: May include trauma-focused therapies designed to help people process traumatic experiences and manage PTSD symptoms.
- Trauma treatment: Can help people understand and cope with the effects of trauma, including related emotional and mental health concerns.
- Co-occurring disorders treatment: Also called dual diagnosis treatment, this approach addresses mental health and substance use disorders together. Programs that provide both mental health and addiction treatment may coordinate care for both conditions as part of an integrated treatment plan.
Evidence Base
Research supports psychotherapy and medication as effective approaches for treating many mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Evidence-based therapies such as CBT and DBT may also be used based on a person’s condition, symptoms, and individual needs.2,6 Care may include a combination of approaches and evolve over time based on a person’s needs and response to treatment.
Cost and Insurance
The cost of mental health treatment varies based on factors such as the level of care, length of treatment, services provided, and your insurance plan.
Mental health and substance use disorder services are considered essential health benefits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), although coverage and out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance, vary by plan.7 Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE may also cover mental health services, depending on eligibility, the type of care, and the provider.
To better understand your coverage and potential costs, you can use the insurance verification tool on this page to check your benefits.
How to Find Mental Health Treatment
When you're ready to explore your options, Recovery.com can help you browse and compare mental health treatment centres based on factors such as location, level of care, insurance, and treatment approach. Explore the centres on this page to learn more about available services, compare your options, and reach out directly with questions as you look for care that fits your needs.
Sources:
- National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Mental illness. National Institutes of Health.
- American Psychological Association. (2012). Recognition of psychotherapy effectiveness.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Substance use disorder treatment for people with co-occurring disorders. Treatment improvement protocol (TIP) series, no. 42. SAMHSA publication no. PEP20-02-01-004. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). National mental health services survey (N-MHSS): 2020. Centre for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality.
- Peprah, K., & Argáez, C. (2017). Dialectical behavioral therapy for adults with mental illness: A review of clinical effectiveness and guidelines. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525629/
- American Psychological Association. (2017). Clinical practice guideline for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults.
- HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Mental health & substance abuse coverage. U.S. Centres for Medicare & Medicaid Services.