The effects of mental health conditions can be felt in every area of your life, even if they are temporary. There is no doubt that psychotherapy is one of the most effective and powerful tools available in treating mental illness, but you may also require other forms of treatment or support to achieve your desired results.
Many people can benefit from combining psychotherapy with medication, and this is confirmed by the American Psychological Association. To round out your treatment, you might also need bodywork or affordable housing.
There are a multitude of resources within this guide that can be of benefit to you in restoring your physical and mental health.
You should seek medical attention if you need medication
There are many mental health conditions that can be treated with medication. As per the National Institute of Mental Health’s Trusted Source, a number of well-studied and effective medications are available, such as:
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Antidepressantsts
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Anti-anxietyty medications
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Stimulantsts
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Antipsychoticscs
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Moodod stabilizers
These medications can treat a range of conditions. A doctor, psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant must prescribe them.
To locate a healthcare professional who can prescribe medications as part of your treatment plan, you can start by contacting your insurance provider, if you have one. Using a psychiatrist in your network can save you money.
If that’s not an option, you may want to search using a database operated by a reliable mental health organization, such as these:
American Psychiatric Association (APA)
APA’s Find a Psychiatrist database allows you to tailor your search to include the specific disorder you want to treat, the languages spoken by your psychiatrist, and whether the psychiatrist accepts Medicare, Medicaid, or insurance payments.
FindCare can help you find a psychiatrist in your local area with the ZIP code search feature. Other services like HelpPRO can also help you find a psychiatrist in your area.
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatrists
The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatrists can help you locate a psychiatrist to treat a young person.
If you’ve been prescribed medication for a mental health condition and you want to learn more about side effects, drug interactions, or warnings, you can find lots of information using these resources:
U.S. National Library of Medicine
- MedlinePlus. Its searchable database has up-to-date information on thousands of drugs, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies.
- DailyMed. This is another helpful Library of Medicine medication information service.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS)Trusted Source tracks reports about new risks and possible safety issues with medications. It’s a good source for any newly reported information about prescription medications.
Sometimes people experiencing a mental health crisis need a short stay in a hospital or residential treatment facility.
If your insurance covers mental health, check with your insurance provider to see which inpatient treatment facilities it covers, how many days are covered, and what your out-of-pocket costs may be.
Many treatment facilities have a specific treatment focus, such as eating disorders, complex psychiatric disorders, or substance use recovery. And some offer innovative treatment programs, such as farm-based healing, educational opportunities, and vocational training.
These resources can help identify inpatient treatment options:
Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) has compiled a list of inpatient treatment centers for anxiety disorders and depression.
American Association of Children’s Residential Centers
The Association of Children’s Residential Centers has lists of its member facilities by state.
American Residential Treatment Association
The American Residential Treatment Association has 30 member facilities you can search by state. The listings describe the special programs offered by each facility.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SAMHSA has a searchable national locator to help people find inpatient mental health facilities near them.
After treatment in an inpatient facility, you may want to spend some time in extended care or a step-down program. Participating in a good “bridgeTrusted Source” program makes it more likely that you’ll feel safe and supported, enabling you to maintain your progress.
In addition to offering psychotherapy, these transition programs usually offer a chance to:
- build coping skills
- engage in education or job training
- develop a support network
- provide ways to encourage accountability
- create a safety plan to use if you need extra help
Many inpatient facilities have a continuous care coordinator on all treatment teams to help people transition back to independent living. Some facilities offer partial hospitalization programs that allow people to be at the facility during the day and go home at night.
To find outpatient facilities or day treatment programs, you may want to look for a treatment center that specializes in specific mental health conditions.
Aunt Bertha
Aunt Bertha’s mission is to help people find a variety of public assistance programs. Its Find Help tool can help locate outpatient treatment facilities in your area. This tool can also help you find local aid organizations to meet other financial and practical needs.
The Center for Victims of Torture
For refugees or survivors of torture, the Center for Victims of Torture’s Domestic Healing Centers offer mental healthcare.
University research programs
Major research programs at some universities, like these programs at Yale and the University of Pennsylvania, offer care for complex disorders such as schizophrenia. If you live near a university with a medical school, this may be a good option.
Telemed services
Telemedicine makes it possible to obtain treatment at specialty clinics even if you don’t live close to one, like this online program for eating disorders at Johns Hopkins Medicine.