Mega Doctor News
There’s no denying that prioritizing our mental health is essential to our overall well-being. Impacting how we think, feel and act, mental health influences our ability to cope with stress, form relationships and make healthy choices.
Unfortunately, poor mental health can significantly impact many aspects of a person’s life, including their physical well-being, relationships and overall ability to function. It can also lead to increased risks of chronic illnesses, decreased productivity and societal issues like homelessness and poverty.
In the United States, about one in five adults experience a mental illness each year, per the National Institute of Mental Health, with one in 20 Americans suffering from a severe mental disorder annually.
Meanwhile, substance use disorder – deemed a public health emergency by the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics – affects about 54.6 million Americans over the age of 12, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with only 26% receiving any sort of treatment for their condition.
But not every individual requiring treatment for a mental health condition requires hospitalization.
While many need treatment in an inpatient setting, there are some patients who can be treated in an outpatient setting.
On Wednesday, May 7, South Texas Health System Behavioral hosted a special community event to officially launch its Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), a highly structured and concentrated treatment program that providespatients struggling with mental health or substance use disorder the opportunity to get the care they need without greatly impacting their daily routine, including home, work and/or school life.
“Through this program STHS Behavioral is able to bridge the gap between inpatient services and a more intensivetherapy setting to offer help, support and guidance for patients to build a solid foundation on their road to recovery,” says Leticia Sosa, Director of Outpatient Services, STHS Behavioral. “Our IOP offers individual, family and group therapy, as well as individualized treatment plans that help foster resilience and enable better responses to challenges through a series of sessions that last anywhere from three to six weeks depending on a patient’s unique needs – all while allowing them to maintain a sense of normalcy in their everyday lives.”
The STHS Behavioral Intensive Outpatient Program has been created to provide a structured yet flexible environment for mental health treatment while allowing patients to maintain their daily routines and relationships. Throughout their time in the program, STHS Behavioral staff provide the necessary treatment tools and techniques to help patients work through emotional, behavioral and psychological issues without requiring them to stay in the hospital.
“I’ve received inpatient therapy before,” says Carlos Murro, who recently completed a nine-week intensive outpatient program at STHS Behavioral for his mental health challenges, including substance use disorder. “When I would get released, I’d relapse about two weeks later. Through STHS Behavioral’s IOP program though, I’ve been able to make meaningful progress toward my treatment goals and develop the coping skills required to stay sober.”
During the event, Murro opened up about his lifelong struggle with addiction to a room of about 50 community members and STHS leaders and staff members, who applauded his progress with sobriety.
“This program has truly made a big difference in my life because it has provided me a great support system while allowing me to still be able to live my life,” says Murro.
In addition to learning specialty level of care to adolescents (13-17) and adults (18 and over) experiencing ongoing symptoms of depression, anxiety and other emotional hardships that affect their relationships and day-to-day activities, attendees had an opportunity to experience some of the treatment tools and techniques offered through the program, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Station, play therapy, creative arts therapy, coping skills training and horticulture therapy station.
“Typically, people assume that treatment only involves counseling sessions or inpatient treatment in a psychiatric hospital, but through our IOP, we’re able to show the community another option that provides more intensive treatment without disrupting their lives. It’s aid available to individuals before they reach a crisis point,” says Jessica Becker, Chief Executive Officer, STHS Behavioral. “Through the various forms of treatment we provide, including individual, group and family therapy, we’re able to deliver quality, compassionate mental healthcare in the most effective and least restrictive manner possible.”
STHS Behavioral’s IOP program – open to adult and adolescent patients, with a program for children between the ages of 7 and 12 opening soon – features individualized care plans designed to help achieve positive results. During twice-a-week sessions, patients discuss topics including coping with depression and anxiety, stress and anger management, communication and socialization skills, relaxation skills and more.
To learn more about the program or for a confidential assessment to determine if participation in the IOP is right for you, call 956-388-1300 or visit STHSBehavioral.com.
About South Texas Health System
