What Do Rehab Alumni Program Services Look Like After Mental Health Rehabilitation?
Many people are under the misconception that mental health rehabilitation is a “one-and-done” experience. Yes, the goal is to complete a mental health rehab program, not to have to participate in another one, but recovery is a life-long process that takes action and continued effort. This is where post-rehab alumni program services and support can be highly beneficial.
The Benefits of Mental Health Rehabilitation
Mental health rehabilitation is about focusing on one’s mental health without any potential distractions from the outside world. According to the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, “Mental health rehabilitation services provide essential support to people with complex and longer-term mental health problems. They include inpatient services and community teams providing clinical input to people living in supported accommodation services.”
There are many benefits of mental health rehabilitation. The following are just a few of those benefits:
- Ability to create more intimate relationships with recovery professionals and recovery peers
- 24/7 medical and psychological support
- Chance to learn essential life skills
- Provides the family with an opportunity to heal together
- Offers addiction services (if needed)
- Creates a safe space for open expression
- With doctors on-site, it allows for changes to recovery plans as needed
- Offers rehab alumni program services after an individual completes mental health rehabilitation.
What Are Rehab Alumni Program Services?
Recovery alumni services and support refer to the offerings a recovery center makes available to its clients post-rehab. They often include services that keep individuals connected to the recovery center, their recovery plan, and other people with whom they were in recovery.
Recovery alumni services also help to keep people accountable because it helps keep them connected to the actions that they are committed to taking to stay well. This might include continued therapy, attending support meetings, and working with other people in recovery.
Rehab alumni program services also offer a lifeline to anyone who may feel like they are having a mental health recurrence or, for those with co-occurring addictions, a relapse. Relapses are more common than many people may know. According to the peer-reviewed thesis, Addiction Relapse Prevention, by authors Guenzel and McChargue, “Many studies have shown relapse rates of approximately 50% within the first 12 weeks after completion of intensive inpatient programs that often last 4 to 12 weeks or more and can cost tens of thousands of dollars.”
What Do Alumni Services Look Like After Mental Health Rehabilitation?
Effective alumni services and post-rehab programs are going to be very constant. This means that individuals should always feel connected to their recovery center (hence alumni). This connection may happen through an online newsletter, social media group, or online forum. Alumni services and support should also be available by simply reaching out to the recovery center either with a phone call or email.
Many alumni support services will offer opportunities to connect with others in recovery. This may include safe and secure (and sober) gatherings, as well as meetings and lectures on certain aspects of recovery. Rehab alumni program services aim to remind clients that they are not alone and that their long-term recovery is the priority.
What Are the Benefits of Alumni Services?
There are many benefits to staying connected with rehab alumni program services. This includes staying up to date on all of the latest information on certain recovery means, methods, and modalities. It also helps people stay connected to other alumni so they can help each other on their recovery journey.
Other benefits of alumni services include having people to reach out to if a potential relapse or mental health recurrence happens. It also helps alleviate the anxiety or fear of a mental health recurrence from happening. According to the British Journal of Clinical Psychology, “It is well known that mental health problems can recur even after effective treatment, leading to an understandable fear of illness recurrence (FIR) and mental health anxiety (MHA). These may themselves contribute to the process of relapse.” With alumni services and support, clients can be comforted as they know they have a place to turn to if times get tough.
Staying Connected With The Phoenix Recovery Center
Here at The Phoenix Recovery Center, we know that recovery is about the journey, never the destination. That is why we always focus on long-term recovery over short-term “fixes.”
It is also why we offer rehab alumni program services and support to all of our clients. This ensures that each client continues to progress and make forward momentum toward their overall recovery and life goals.
The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” The same is true with recovery. Recovery is out there and waiting; the key is to take the first step, reach out, and ask for help.
There are many benefits of alumni services for mental health. Alumni services and support can keep people engaged in their recovery, as well as offer options if one is feeling like they are struggling. There are also many benefits to staying connected with other people who were in mental health rehabilitation at the same time (creating a strong “network” of recovery). If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the positive path toward long-term recovery right away. For more information about staying connected to healthy recovery via alumni services and support, please reach out to The Phoenix Recovery Center today at (801) 438-3185.
