Treatment takes place in an office, hospital, or clinical setting, but involves no overnight stay. Treatment can be tailored to each individual’s needs. The nature and severity of the person’s MH condition will determine how much and what kind of care they need. Treatment can include medication management and therapy. 

Patients receive treatment for 9 to 20 hours per week in the community and have frequent contact with physicians, psychiatrists and therapists. Treatment is provided during the day or on evenings and weekends. Patients can continue working, going to school, or carrying out other responsibilities while attending. Typically, patients live in their home environment and attend treatment in the community. 

The most rigorous of outpatient programs. Services last for at least 20 hours per week. Individual, group, and family therapy are major components of treatment, as is psycho-education. Frequent contact with medical and therapeutic staff is expected and integrated into the treatment. Typically, patients live in their home environment and attend treatment in the community. 

Patients reside at a treatment center and go about daily life in a supportive environment alongside peers and receive frequent support from specialized doctors, therapists, and other MH experts. Staff is available 24/7. Patients in residential care are medically stable and focus on building the skills needed for long-term recovery. This is often used as a “step-down” for patients who were discharged from inpatient MH facilities. 

This level of MH care is the most intensive level of treatment, offering 24-hour care in a secure unit of a treatment facility or hospital. This treatment option is best for those with severe MH issues, who need constant monitoring for their own safety and well-being. The main goal of inpatient treatment is to stabilize symptoms while developing a continuing treatment plan so that the patient can receive the care they need in a less intensive setting. Inpatient treatment programs are generally short-term, usually ranging from a few days to a week.