Despite what many people may think or believe, mental health is not a “monolith.” Mental health is not as simple as “you either have it or you don’t” or “this disorder equals these symptoms.” Issues of mental health are much more nuanced than that and they don’t just involve thoughts (aka cognitions) or emotions. They also affect an individual’s behavioral health.
The nuance around mental and behavioral health does not simply stop with the warning signs and symptoms, it also includes the options for treatment. It is essential to make a thoughtful and informed choice regarding residential and partial hospitalizations when determining the right treatment for you or your loved ones.
Understanding the Link Between Behavioral Health and Mental Health
Just because mental health contains the word “mental” does not mean that it exists solely in the mind. While mental health can manifest in the mind (but not always), it is critical to understand mental health on a much broader scale. A significant factor on this scale is that of behavioral health.
Although behaviors do not always correlate to issues of mental health, when they do, behavioral health has to do with the physical aspects of an individual’s psychological state. One way to think of this is how an individual’s mental state becomes “visible” to the external world. It is also important to note that poor behavioral health is not merely a result of mental illness. Rather, poor behavioral health can also lead to issues of mental health.
One of the best examples of behavioral health affecting mental health is that of substance abuse and addiction. There are stages of addiction and they involve a “habitual” progression from the beginning to the ultimate “addiction” stage. While yes, some individuals do use substances as a coping mechanism for their mental states, others just begin via experimentation. Through their habitual behavioral substance misuse and abuse, they can develop one of the most prevalent mental health disorders today: Substance use disorder (SUD).
Treatment Options for Issues of Behavioral and Mental Health
Now that we have established a better understanding of the direct correlation between mental and behavioral health, it is vital to understand how that correlation must be taken into account when considering treatment. For example, consider choosing between a residential and partial hospitalization program (PHP).
What happens when the “mental” aspect of a disorder is treated without a focus on the behavioral? A “whole” recovery cannot occur. An individual must be treated externally and internally, lest one or the other remains to cause the entire cycle of negative cognitive and behavioral actions to repeat.
Now, there are many treatment choices when it comes to issues of behavioral and mental health. As mentioned previously, there are residential programs and PHPs. In addition, there are intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) and general outpatient programs. All of these can tackle the issues of both behavioral and mental health, but only if they are offered by a recovery center that focuses on both.
Choosing Between a Residential and Partial Hospitalization Treatment Program
When an individual is at the more symptomatic stages of their mental health disorder[s], the two most common choices for treatment are either a residential or a PHP. Both of these options offer more closely monitored clinical attention for those that need it. However, the former is the most intensive and may be the best choice for someone that needs 24/7 care, especially during the early stages of recovery.
Residential Treatment Programs
A residential treatment program can ensure that an individual no longer becomes harmful to themselves or others. Of course, this does not mean an individual ever has to be suicidal or violent for residential care to be the right choice. It just means that more closely monitored care can best ensure that the transition to the next tier can happen as smoothly as possible.
Partial Hospitalization Treatment Programs
These programs are ideal for individuals that still need close clinical and psychological attention, but they are comfortable enough to “keep one foot” out in their everyday lives. This is especially helpful for an individual that is recovering from addiction and needs to make and maintain connections to a 12-Step recovery community outside of the recovery center.
Residential and Partial Hospitalization Programs at the Phoenix Recovery Center
Here at The Phoenix Recovery Center, we have all of the treatment programs that have been mentioned here: Residential treatment programs, PHPs, IOPs, and general outpatient programs.
However, more than merely offering these treatment programs, we offer these programs on an individualized basis, always with a focus on both behavioral and mental health. We never simply treat a disorder. Rather, we treat the individual that is experiencing that disorder, and in doing so we empower them to get out from under it and back to the top of living their life to the fullest.
If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of behavioral or mental health, let us help you. For more information on residential and partial hospitalization programs, call The Phoenix Recovery Center at (801) 438-3185.
