Often young people with mental health conditions do not need adolescent inpatient treatment services. It is possible for treatment in the form of outpatient care, by having regular meetings with a licensed counselor to have a great benefit for adolescents with mental health disorders. However, there are some cases where a period of care at a residential facility can be helpful for young patients.

Adolescents must have been diagnosed with a DSM-V recognized condition to be admitted for inpatient services. Adolescents who enter inpatient care present a significant risk of harm to themselves or others, a significant disturbance of mood, or the inability to participate in developmentally appropriate self-care or self-regulation.

The care that adolescents receive in an inpatient treatment facility starts with a psychiatric evaluation. This will give the mental health professionals working with your child the information they need to provide quality individualized care. From there, providers will address thoughts and behaviors that could pose a danger to your child or to others.

Staff at an inpatient facility will provide adolescents with therapies that will reduce the symptoms of their mental health condition. This will lead to an improvement in daily functioning in the community, school, and at home. Along with this care, parents will be kept up to date on services being provided and will receive education related to their role in supporting their child through mental illness.

Every patient will have a discharge plan written into their treatment guidelines after their initial evaluation. Discharge from inpatient adolescent care relates to meeting treatment goals. A patient’s care plan will be regularly evaluated to provide the quality care that will allow them to reach the goals stated. It is during these evaluations that conversations about discharge or further treatment will take place.

There are several ways adolescent patients can continue care after inpatient treatment services. In many cases, a patient will continue with outpatient services, meaning that they will return to the treatment center for services that treat their condition but will not stay at the center 24/7. This treatment will be similar to the care they received in inpatient treatment but at a reduced level and frequency. After formal inpatient care ends, it is a good idea for an adolescent to continue to see a therapist. This mental health professional can continue to monitor your child’s progress, give them the tools they need to manage their mental health disorder, and help them to continue to meet new goals.