The Flexible Path to Healing: Why Outpatient Care for Depression Works
Many people, with depression, say it feels like a deep sadness. However, like other mental health conditions, depression is a complex illness that is more than just feeling sad. Experts describe it as a condition that affects a person’s entire body.
It doesn’t just impact a person’s physical body. It also impacts a person’s mental and emotional health. It becomes difficult for a person to see the positive side of situations. Instead, they only see the negative. It’s an illness that causes feelings of worthlessness, low self-confidence, and in worse cases, suicidal ideology.
When a loved one suffers from depression, many do not know what to do. They don’t know how to help someone with depression. The best method is to go to a mental health expert, and some of those experts may recommend outpatient care.
What Is Outpatient Care for Depression?
In some instances, when people have a behavioral health or mental health illness (like depression), they need to stay in a hospital. But in some situations, there’s another mental health treatment alternative: outpatient treatment or care.
Outpatient care focuses on treatment for depression using flexible outpatient services rather than having the patient stay in a mental health facility, such as a hospital, clinic, or residential program. Patients can receive the required treatment while living at home. They can stop by to see a psychiatrist, once a week, at his or her office, or stop by a counselor’s office twice a week instead of staying 24/7 in a clinic.
It can involve having individuals participate in multiple behavioral therapies, including family, or group counseling with a therapist. (Behavioral therapy refers to therapy for mental health disorders.)
Outpatient care can also include having sessions with a psychiatrist (a mental health professional who prescribes medication), also outside of the facility. In many cases, these sessions can be conducted online. Receiving this treatment, without having to be in a facility, makes it easier for people to continue with their daily activities. In maintaining their daily routines, patients can participate in work, school, hobbies – activities which provide them with pleasure. They can continue to feel normal, which, in the long run, can go a long way toward helping their depression.
Outpatient Care Options
There are different types of treatment programs for outpatient care. These can include:
- 12-step programs: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are known for creating the 12-step program, a guide to helping someone who suffers from addictions (such as alcohol and substance abuse) better understand their illness, come up with coping skills, and to create a sense of community with others who are facing the same challenges. It wasn’t long before someone created these programs for those suffering from depression. These programs are usually community-based and free. Examples of these programs can include Depressed Anonymous, Emotions Anonymous, and the National Alliance of Mental Health.
- Routine outpatient care (ROC): This is a type of treatment for mental health (or substance use disorders) which involves less frequent and intensive treatment or therapy sessions when compared to an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). There are three types of ROC. There is individual counseling, which involves one-on-one sessions with a therapist. There is medication management. With this option, the patient visits a psychiatrist or a nurse practitioner who evaluates the client and ensures the client is receiving the combination of medication for their treatment. The third option is group therapy. This choice involves the patient having weekly group sessions with other people dealing with mental health issues. This alternative helps people learn from the experiences of others.
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP): An IOP helps people, facing depression, learn how to manage stress, and this ROC also provides a tool kit of coping skills. This option, which normally lasts four to six weeks, can include group, individual, and family therapy. It usually involves having frequent visits (three to five days per week) with a mental health professional. While there are frequent visits, the mental health providers do their best to make sure the therapy sessions line up with the patient’s daily routines.
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP): This program is intended for those who need a higher level of care. Mental health experts often recommend it for those who are still struggling even after completing the lower levels of care. Meanwhile, it can also be suggested for patients who have just completed hospitalization as a step-down guide. This option is also helpful for those individuals who are at risk of being admitted into a hospital. It involves treating the patient five to seven days a week for six hours each day. Like an IOP, the patient can have group, individual, and family therapy. The patient will also meet with a psychiatrist consistently to make sure their medication is adjusted to meet their needs.
Benefits of Outpatient Care
There are multiple benefits of outpatient care. One of the major benefits, which attracts most clients, is the flexibility. Patients can continue their daily and weekly activities, whether it be work, school, or family responsibilities, while receiving the therapy treatment they need. Not only will they receive the pleasure from participating in these activities, but this flexibility reduces stress, because patients are able to complete necessary tasks outside of treatment. In addition, this adaptable schedule makes the treatment process feel more manageable.
Not only does the process feel more manageable, but patients can feel more independent. They do not have to rely on the resources, in a medical facility, to recover. Instead, they can feel empowered and participate in their own recovery.
Outpatient care patients can also be tailored to a person’s individual needs. The treatment for depression is not a one-size-fits-all answer. Everyone needs a specific solution that fits their illness. Someone who is struggling with schizophrenia or depression bipolar disorder will need a different outpatient care treatment than someone dealing with depression. This personalized treatment can help clients gain the medication or skills they need to aid in long-term recovery.
A third advantage is the cost. It’s always nice when money can be saved. Health care expenses for outpatient care is more affordable, because it doesn’t require a client to remain in a facility. It is also okay if the patient is not able to cover the costs of the outpatient care program, because there are a variety of ways to pay, including payment plans, insurance covers, and possible financial assistance programs.
Outpatient care is a powerful solution to help those who are living with depression. It is a path which provides structure, professional support, and the flexibility to stay connected to everyday life. Whether you’re starting your mental health journey or transitioning from more intensive treatment, outpatient services can meet you where you are and help you move forward at your own pace. Just know that depression is treatable. No one has to face it alone.
