Alter Mental Health Can Help in California
Taking care of our mental health is just as important as our physical health, and it can help you navigate life’s stressors more easily. However, there are times when life’s events can become overwhelming, and it can be difficult to carry on with daily life. When this happens, you should know you are not alone and there are compassionate treatment centers for mental health in San Diego. Alter Mental Health is an alternative to inpatient hospitalization which can offer a reset to get your mental health back on track.
Our crisis stabilization unit in San Diego provides round-the-clock treatment from clinicians and therapists during difficult times. We offer personalized treatment plans with a holistic approach to help you gain the right foundation for a path toward mental health recovery in San Diego. Clients experiencing a mental health crisis will benefit from this short-term program in a safe environment to regain control and the tools needed to manage their mental health.
What Is a Mental Health Crisis?
A mental health crisis occurs when a person’s state of mind can no longer handle the everyday stresses of life. If left untreated, a mental health crisis can become severe enough to render a person unable to take care of themselves, put them at risk of harming themselves or others, or make them severely disoriented and out of touch with reality. While it is possible to go from good mental health to a crisis quickly, usually there are certain signs and symptoms of an impending mental health crisis.
Mental health crises will look different in each person. There are several signs and symptoms which may point out to a crisis, including:
- Feeling increasingly angry, agitated, or violent.
- Intense or sudden mood changes.
- Inability to care for oneself, such as feeding oneself, bathing, oral hygiene, or changing clothes.
- Difficult functioning in everyday tasks, such as being unable to get out of bed, go to work, or perform daily tasks.
- Isolating or withdrawing from others.
- Suicidal thoughts or making plans.
- Harming oneself or self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.
- Psychosis, such as delusions or hallucinations.
- Paranoia.
In most cases, these symptoms or behavioral changes are severe. Many of these symptoms could sound like the norm for individuals struggling with mental health. The key to figuring out if the person is in a mental health crisis is that there is a clear and abrupt change in behavior. If the person is experiencing moods and behaviors that are not typical to them, they may be approaching a crisis.
Who Is at Risk of a Mental Health Crisis?
A mental health crisis can happen to anyone, regardless of their mental health. Traumatic or stressful events can trigger anyone to experience a mental health breakdown, crisis, or emergency. Most potential stressors that may contribute to a crisis include:
- Traumatic event.
- Loss of a loved one, pet, or home.
- A divorce or breakup.
- Isolation.
- Switching or stopping mental health treatments.
- A medical diagnosis.
- Losing a job or failing a class.
- Substance use disorder.
People with mental health disorders such as bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD are more prone to mental health crises. While untreated mental health conditions can quickly worsen and lead to a crisis, even those currently managed conditions can still deteriorate. In any event or situation, a person in San Diego experiencing a mental health crisis needs immediate support and ongoing aftercare treatment plans.
How Can a Mental Health Facility Help During a Crisis?
Mental health facilities in San Diego can offer a safe and secure environment with the necessary support to overcome a crisis. Quality treatment centers with inpatient care provide therapies to manage any mental health disorder. Clinicians will conduct a thorough evaluation to diagnose and prescribe the right treatment options properly.
Crisis stabilization units, like Alter Mental Health in San Diego, have the experience, staff, medications, and therapies necessary to provide a solid foundation toward recovery. Once the client is properly stabilized, we will provide a personalized aftercare plan and referrals to continue with ongoing treatment. Having the right support and resources while returning to home life can help provide a clear path toward long-term recovery from any mental health disorder or crisis.
9 Things to Consider When Looking for Mental Health Treatment
With so many options for mental health treatment in San Diego, it can be difficult to navigate which places offer the right type of treatment for you. Some things to consider when choosing quality mental health treatment include the following:
- Residential treatment: Mental health crises may be severe enough for round-the-clock care. Look for treatment programs that offer inpatient treatment, which will help you separate from triggers and stressors to ensure safety. Inpatient care provides a safe place to reset and heal.
- Thorough intake assessment: Quality treatment centers for mental health in San Diego will conduct a thorough evaluation. Getting the right diagnosis and treatment plan is essential for recovery.
- Individualized treatment plans: Mental health issues affect each person differently, and that’s why effective treatment requires an individualized approach. The best facilities will offer personalized treatment plans built on various therapies and services.
- Evidence-based treatment: Mental health treatment can be effective, but it needs to be the right type of treatment. A good facility will focus treatment on evidence-based therapies backed by rigorous scientific research, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT).
- Medication management: During mental health crises, medications may be necessary to stabilize the person. The right crisis stabilization unit will offer medication management in addition to behavioral therapy and counseling to quickly get the issue under control.
- Expert qualified staff: Make sure to research the facility’s staff on its website. They should be experienced and knowledgeable about different types of care and mental disorders to serve patients best.
- State-licensed and accredited by an outside party: The treatment facility must have proper licensing to be qualified to treat various mental health disorders. The best mental health centers will also be accredited by agencies such as The Joint Commission which confirms their commitment to high standards and quality care.
- Long-term care or referrals: Mental health disorders require long-term treatment to manage successfully. Treatment centers should never offer a short-term cure to a crisis but instead offer ongoing treatment programs, aftercare planning, or referrals for ongoing recovery.
- Insurance plans are accepted: If you have health insurance, make sure the treatment facility takes your California health insurance plan which can cover some or all treatment costs. Facilities that take insurance also indicate they provide clients with effective, medically-backed treatments.
Alter Can Help With Mental Health in San Diego
Experiencing a crisis or rapid downturn in your mental health can be frightening and confusing. Alter Mental Health in San Diego can offer you the help and support you deserve. You are never a burden and your mental health matters. Our compassionate, caring team is available 24/7 to take your call and guide you through difficult times. If you believe you are in a crisis, please call us today at 866-986-1481 to discuss your case and quickly get admitted.
