Mental Health Treatment

Psychotherapy is another word for talk therapy. It is a treatment for many mental health conditions and is offered in both inpatient and outpatient settings. During talk therapy, a person or group talks about their issues with a therapist who can help them process their feelings and learn new coping skills. There are many different types of psychotherapy.

Individual therapy is a form of therapy in which the client is treated on a one-on-one basis with a therapist. Individual therapy is the most popular form of therapy and includes many different treatment styles such as psychoanalysis and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Individual therapy allows the therapist and client to focus on each other, building a relationship and working together to solve the client’s problems.

Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy that involves one or more therapists working with several people at the same time. This type of therapy is widely available at a variety of locations including private therapeutic practices, hospitals, mental health clinics, and community centers. Group therapy allows people to receive support and encouragement from other members of the group. Group therapy is often very affordable and can offer a safe haven to many people.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is used to treat a wide range of issues. It is often the preferred type of psychotherapy because it can quickly help people identify and cope with specific challenges. CBT helps improve many mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, phobias, PTSD, sleep disorders, eating disorders, OCD, substance use disorders, bipolar disorders, and schizophrenia.

Dialectical behavior therapy is a modified type of cognitive behavioral therapy. Its main goals are to teach people how to live in the moment, develop healthy ways to cope with stress, regulate emotions, and improve their relationships with others.

Interpersonal psychotherapy focuses on relieving symptoms by improving interpersonal functioning. It addresses current problems and relationships rather than childhood or developmental issues. Therapists are active, supportive, hopeful, and offer options for change.

Medications can be used to help treat the symptoms of mental illness – they do not cure mental health disorders. Medications are often used in combination with therapy and are offered in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Common medications used for mental health treatment include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics. These medications are prescribed by psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or primary care providers based on patients’ disorders, symptoms, and severity. It is important to only take mental health medications prescribed to you by your doctor.

Psychiatric hospitalization happens when a person is admitted to a private psychiatric hospital, a medical hospital with a psychiatric floor, or a state psychiatric hospital. Psychiatric hospitalizations typically consist of stabilization, close monitoring, medication, administration of fluids and nutrition, and other necessary emergency care. Most people with mental health conditions will not need to spend time in a psychiatric hospital.

There are many misconceptions about psychiatric hospitalization. People can be voluntarily or involuntarily hospitalized. Voluntary admission happens when a mental health provider and patient agree that the patient would benefit from hospitalization or meets the criteria for hospitalization. The patient is usually required to sign a consent form that documents their rights and describes the hospitalization experience. By signing the form, the patient agrees to being hospitalized. If the patient later requests to leave, they can be discharged if a mental health professional determines they are safe. If it is believed that a patient is a risk to themselves or others, a mental health professional may request a hold. Involuntary commitment happens when a patient does not agree to psychiatric hospitalization, but a mental health professional believes the person is a risk to themselves or others. The person must have clear and present danger to themselves or others in the past 30 days. Involuntary commitment is used as a last resort! State hospitals in Alabama that only admit involuntary commitments include:

• Bryce State Hospital: serves adults ages 19 and older
• Taylor Hardin State Hospital: serves adults ages 19 and older who are criminally committed
• Mary Starke Harper Geriatric Psychiatric State Hospital: serves adults ages 65 and older

A person is a candidate for psychiatric hospitalization when they have severe mental health symptoms, hallucinations or delusions, suicidal thoughts, has not slept or eaten for days, and cannot care for themselves. There are several psychiatric hospitals in Alabama. For more information on where these centers are, please visit the Hospitals Archive – Alabama Hospital Association (alaha.org).

Inpatient treatment, also referred to as residential mental health treatment, takes place in a live-in facility on a 24/7 basis. This level of care is best for people with mental illness who need constant medical and/or psychological supervision or have severe, long-term symptoms. The inpatient environment is very structured and helps patients work on rebuilding life skills without being exposed to negative influences. Often, people who have tried outpatient programs but relapsed back into drug or alcohol use, or continue to struggle with symptoms of mental health, find success in an inpatient program. Treatment for mental disorders in an inpatient facility usually consists of individual psychotherapy/counseling, group therapy, medication, medical supervision, recreational therapies, and complementary therapies (e.g., yoga or meditation).

There are several options for residential mental health treatment in Alabama:

• • Adult Residential

• • Specialized Medical Residential

• • Specialized Behavior Residential

• • Supervised Apartment 

Outpatient mental health treatment does not require people to live at the treatment center. Instead, people will visit the treatment center or therapist’s office on certain days of the week. Outpatient services are best suited for people with mild to moderate mental health symptoms, a solid support system, and have the ability to function outside of an inpatient or residential environment. There are many different types of outpatient options such as individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, support groups, intensive outpatient care, and medicine management.

Alabama specific outpatient treatment options include:

A treatment model where health care providers work together to help people with mental illness holistically (medication, therapy, social support, employment, housing). When mental health care providers work together, research has shown treatment is more effective. Most often, ACT is used for people who have just left a residential setting who need a similar level of care, but wish to live independently.

An interdisciplinary team that works together to address the specific needs of individuals with a serious mental illness. The team makes an individual treatment plan for each person and then provides all the services within the team. The team consists of at least 1 full-time master’s level clinician, at least 1 half-time registered or practical nurse, and one full-time case manager. PACT and ACT are extremely important for divesting adults who are at high risk for readmission to a state psychiatric facility.

Focuses on helping people with serious mental illness and those with co-occurring substance use disorders get and keep competitive jobs based on their interests. Supported employment team intervention also provides support to individuals throughout the entire process from looking for employment and services continue even after employment is obtained.

Aims to reduce the amount of people with mental health conditions in jail. In Alabama, the state mental health department has extended the Stepping Up initiatives to help jails, emergency rooms, and courts- all settings that often do not have resources to help people with mental health conditions.

Other outpatient services in Alabama include:

• • Adult in-home intervention

• • Adult care management/coordination

• • Adult partial hospitalization programs

• • Adult outpatient therapy

• First episode psychosis team intervention

Peer support refers to activities and interactions among people who have had similar experiences of being diagnosed with mental health conditions. A peer support professional helps build stronger connections and inspire hope. Peer support also offers greater acceptance, understanding, and support compared to relationships with people who have not had the same struggles. Peer programs in Alabama include:

This type of peer support must be provided by a parent or caregiver who uses their lived experience to empower other parents of a child or youth with a serious emotional disturbance (SED). CPS-P assists parents with navigating through multiple agencies and human service systems (e.g., basic needs, health, mental health, education, social services, etc.). CPS-P also helps parents develop effective communication, self-help, and self-advocacy skills, in addition to developing healthy social networks.

Certified peer specialists for adults must be in recovery from a diagnosed mental illness. They provide effective communication skills, recovery for mental health conditions, and serve as a role model to others with similar challenges.

Finding the best mental health treatment is a very important step in recovery. To find more information on mental health treatment options in your county, visit the Treatment Locator.

• Actually, mental health problems are very common. In fact, mental health problems are the most common health conditions in the US.
• >50% of people will be diagnosed with a mental health problem or disorder at some point in their life
• 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental health problem.
• 1 in 5 children either currently or have had a mental health disorder
• 1 in 25 Americans currently live with a serious mental health problem such as schizophrenia, bipolar and major depression disorders.

• Children, even when they are really young, can show early signs of mental health concerns.
• ½ of all mental health disorders show first signs around 14 years old.
• ¾ of mental health disorders begin before age 24.

• Majority of people with mental health problems are not violent and only 3-5% of all violent acts are committed by people with a severe mental illness
• Actually, people with severe mental illness are over 10x more likely to be the victims of violent crime compared to the general population.
• It is very likely that you know someone with a mental illness, and you may not even know.

• People with mental health problems can be just as productive as other employees!

• Mental health problems have nothing to do with being lazy or weak and many need help to get better

• Research shows that people with mental health problems do get better, and many will recover completely

• Treatment really depends on what the person needs. But when a person is prescribed a drug, they are often urged to go to counseling for the best results!

• Friends and loved ones make a huge difference.

• Involuntary commitment is only used as a last resort. There must be clear evidence before a person is involuntarily hospitalized. You cannot drop off a loved one at a psychiatric hospital because of your opinion of their mental health.

Alabama requires all public psychiatric facilities and hospitals to accept patients not matter their financial situation.