Depression Treatment Centers

Many people may assume that depression and other mental conditions are always solved and improved through periodic therapy sessions or medications, but that is not the case for everyone. Depending on the severity of your condition and the amount of support you have, deciding to spend time within a residential facility may be an ideal option for you in improving and healing from your condition.

You may associate rehabilitative, residential, or in-patient centers with drugs and alcohol, and while those centers definitely exist, they are not the only residential treatment programs available. Mental health disorders, such as depression, can have an extremely adverse effect on the quality of your life.

Occasional therapy sessions and medication may not completely resolve the issue for you. You may need a little extra attention and that is nothing to be ashamed about. Everyone is different, has a different lifestyle, and a different amount of support available to them. A residential treatment center for depression may be the key to your healing.

What are Depression Treatment Centers?

Residential treatment centers for depression come in many shapes and sizes, but the approach to treatment and healing is often similar. Usually, patients receive some sort of regular individual therapy, guided community time, and other activities that help alleviate and heal symptoms¹1.C. W. Mark Ng, C. H. How and Y. P. Ng, Managing depression in primary care – PMC, PubMed Central (PMC).; Retrieved September 18, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5563525/.

After spending time in a depression center, you are often released and it is recommended that you continue to attend outpatient group therapy and individual therapy sessions to round out your experience.

Facilities at a Depression Treatment Center

Depression treatment centers generally have the same goal and broad techniques, but the location and setting may vary:

• Group home- similar to an apartment facility, but slightly more intimate, this setting intends to offer a home-like environment to its patients. This environment allows life to feel slightly normal while still living and gathering with people who are on the same road as you are. In apartment and group home settings, the patients will often have off-site jobs or activities that they are a part of and mental health professionals often live in or in close proximity to the group home.

• Farm-Based Facility- This type of Eco Rehab facility is often long-term and works on helping you learn important life skills on the farm while you attend clinically based therapy. The living situation is often similar to a group home.

• Clinical Residence- This is what is more often thought of when depression and rehabilitative centers are thought or spoken of. While these are clinical centers, they often still offer a comfortable environment along with on-site care and support groups.

• Apartment facility- Patients in this type of facility all live in one apartment building or group of buildings. Patients live independently, but gather with other patients for group therapy and mental health professionals are always on-site.

While the overall goal of all of these different types of facilities is the same, the way they approach it and the way you live within each is different. It is important to take time to research what sort of setting you feel would be most beneficial to you and your experience. Make sure the facility is both accredited by the appropriate organizations and licensed by the state.

Pros and Cons of Depression Treatment Centers

Choosing a residential depression center over another approach to healing and therapy can be overwhelming. It may turn out to be the best option for you, but it is important to realize that every program has its ups and downs:

Pros of Depression Treatment Centers

• Seamless transition- because you are located in one place and receiving treatment there, part of their job when it comes time for you to leave the premises is to make sure it is safe for you to do so. These centers ensure that patients have a seamless transition back into “normal” life and that they are already set up for therapy and support groups before they exit the program

• Community. When you are a part of these programs, you live with people who are on the same uphill battle that you are on. This kind of support cannot be imitated anywhere else and it is often vital to positive outcomes for those dealing with severe depression and mental health conditions²2.P. Cuijpers, A. Stringaris and M. Wolpert, Treatment outcomes for depression: challenges and opportunities – The Lancet Psychiatry, The Lancet Psychiatry.; Retrieved September 18, 2022, from https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(20)30036-5/fulltext.

Cons of Depression Treatment Centers

• Social transition- While the program likely ensures that you have outpatient therapy and support groups set up before you leave, the transition from living amongst a group of people going through the same issues that you are can be difficult for many people. That close support was likely a catalyst in your healing and making relationships like that when you no longer live in the same building as other similar people can be really difficult to adjust to. Especially if you do not live near people you were in the program with that have also left.

• Price- Acute care is often covered by insurance, but these long-term programs are often not. Make sure you talk in-depth with your insurance to find out what the best option is for you financially. At the other end of the financial scale Luxury Depression Treatment Centers are also available.

Do I Need Residential Treatment?

Despite the potential cost, these treatments are often vital to your healing and recovery. They are not likely a perfect cure for your depression, but they have a lot of what you may need to heal all in one place. And you cannot beat the support.

The cost may seem hefty but is often well worth the price. If you are wondering whether you need to begin seeking out residential treatment options, here are a few key signs:

• Suicide Ideation. If you are having thoughts of suicide it is absolutely necessary for you to immediately seek treatment, whether you decide to go the inpatient route or not. If you are regularly having thoughts of suicide or have attempted, an in-patient center can help keep you safe and begin your road to healing.

• Your relationships are suffering. Depression affects a lot of things. A big one? Our connection with others. And that lack of connection often makes things worse. It is a vicious cycle. If you are having an issue with relationships and connections because of your depression, seeking treatment is necessary. And a residential program offers plenty of social opportunities.

• You can’t work and daily tasks are impossible. If you are unable to make it to work or finish what you are supposed to, it is important to seek treatment so that your future opportunities are not affected. If you are unable to clean your home, cook meals, or take care of yourself, you need to seek treatment.

• Drugs and alcohol have made an appearance. If you have started abusing drugs and alcohol because of your depression, you are likely going to need a more focused solution and form of treatment to help you on your road to recovery.

Residential treatments may be costly, but often the price of not attending them if you are in dire need of that type of care is costly as well. These programs offer an extensive amount of social opportunities to help you remind you that you are not alone on your journey.

Previous: Burnout vs Depression

Next: Weed & Depression