Get Help For Mental Health Today

A mental illness, also called a mental health disorder, is a medical condition that causes impairments in a person’s thinking, emotional regulation, and behaviors.

If you have a mental illness, it means that these impairments disrupt your ability to function in one or more areas. These areas include the following:

• Activities of Daily Living (ex. keeping a job, maintaining a healthy place to live, taking medications, healthy eating habits, etc.)
• Social Functioning (ex. building and maintaining relationships, communicating clearly, staying out of legal trouble, etc.)
• Thinking, Concentration, and Judgment (ex. making healthy and responsible choices, ability to focus on a task, etc.)
• Adaptation to Stress (ex. ability to manage uncomfortable emotions, reacting in a healthy way to distress)

Thus, impairments in these areas of functioning can significantly impact your ability to live a healthy and successful life. Furthermore, these functioning areas often impact one another. For instance, an impairment in concentration can lead to struggles in maintaining employment.

It’s important to remember that these impairments are symptoms and they don’t define who you are. Instead, you can get treatment to address mental health symptoms and thrive in life despite living with a mental illness.

1 in 5 US Adults Experience Mental Illness

Unfortunately, more than half of all people in the US who need mental health treatment don’t get it. But, if you are living with symptoms, there is hope to improve your mental well-being and make a recovery from mental illness.

At Brandywine Center, we understand that each individual path to mental wellness is unique. For this reason, we offer a variety of treatment options tailored to meet your specific needs. Through a combination of therapy, medication management, and holistic approaches, our programs empower you to take control of your mental health journey, regardless of which level of care you decide to participate in.

Mental health disorders are treated with a combination of psychotherapy, psychiatric medications, and holistic approaches.

There’s no “one-size-fits-all” treatment for mental health, however. What works for you and your needs might differ from another person. This is because of personal preferences, co-occurring medical conditions, underlying causes, diagnosis, and severity of impairment.

In addition, your plan may change throughout the course of treatment. Sometimes, you discover new coping skills to implement or existing coping mechanisms are no longer effective. Furthermore, it can take time to find the right medications for your symptoms.

Lastly, the presence of a co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD) can complicate treatment. However, treating both disorders at the same time leads to the best outcomes during dual-diagnosis treatment. Regardless of your unique needs and symptoms, our outpatient mental health treatment will have something to offer you.

At Brandywine Center, our mental health programs give clients a range of options to meet them exactly where they’re at. Each level of care is designed to be a continuum, where clients are able to manage mental health symptoms in a clinical setting, while utilizing the skills and tools they’ve learned in the real world, simultaneously. This practical approach can be effective in enhancing long-term outcomes.

Recommended: PHP vs. IOP: What’s the Difference?

Choosing outpatient mental health treatment offers a multitude of benefits, including:

• Flexibility: Our programs are designed to fit seamlessly into your busy schedule, allowing you to prioritize your mental health without disrupting your daily life.
• Community Support: Connect with peers during support groups who understand your experiences and can offer invaluable support and encouragement along the way.
• Continuity of Care: Our team provides ongoing support and guidance, ensuring that you have the resources you need to maintain your progress long after your program ends.

The duration of treatment varies based on individual needs and specific mental health conditions. Our PHP typically runs for 4-6 weeks, while our IOP may extend from 8-12 weeks. Both programs are flexible to accommodate the pace of recovery and the unique circumstances of each client.

The length of mental health treatment can vary widely based on several factors. Below is a list of key elements that impact how long treatment might last. Understanding these factors can help set realistic expectations for the duration of mental health treatment in structured programs.

• Severity of the Mental Health Disorder: More severe or complex issues may require longer treatment to manage symptoms effectively.
• Clients Response To Treatment: Individuals respond differently to therapy and medications; those who respond more quickly may complete treatment sooner.
• Presence of Co-Occurring Disorders: Treatment duration can extend if the individual is also dealing with additional disorders, such as substance abuse.
• Level of Support at Home: Adequate family and social support can sometimes shorten the length of necessary treatment.
• Treatment Goals: Specific goals set by the client and their healthcare provider can influence the length of the program.
• Client’s Commitment and Participation: Active participation in the treatment process often leads to more effective and quicker results.
• Therapeutic Approaches Used: Some modalities may achieve results quicker than others, depending on the client’s condition and needs.

Below are several ways to help break the stigma surrounding seeking help for mental health treatment:

• Encourage open and honest conversations about mental health in homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. Create safe spaces where individuals feel comfortable sharing their experiences without fear of judgment or stigma.
• Highlight stories of resilience and recovery to show that seeking mental health treatment is a common and courageous step towards healing.
• Challenge negative stereotypes and portrayals of mental illness in the media, entertainment industry, and popular culture. Promote diverse and accurate representations of mental health experiences to foster empathy and understanding.
• Use person-first language and avoid stigmatizing language that labels individuals by their diagnoses. Reframe discussions to focus on the person rather than the condition, emphasizing strengths, resilience, and potential for growth.
• Lead by example by prioritizing your own mental health and seeking support when needed. Normalize self-care practices, such as mindfulness, exercise, and stress management techniques, as essential components of overall wellness.
• Celebrate progress and milestones in mental health advocacy and awareness efforts. Recognize individuals, organizations, and communities that are making meaningful contributions to reducing stigma and promoting mental wellness for all.