When you, a friend or family member are struggling with your mental health or substance use, engaging in treatment early is a key to success and wellness. Early treatment has many benefits, both short and long term.

In this article, Old Vineyard Behavioral Health Services outlines the benefits of early mental health treatment.

Five Benefits of Early Treatment

Less Intensive Treatment While Remaining at Home

The first benefit of early mental health treatment is the ability to engage in treatment while remaining at home. Attending one of Old Vineyard’s outpatient programs allows for intensive mental health treatment without an inpatient admission. The outpatient programs provide therapy groups 3-5 days weekly depending on the program type and your needs.

As much as we would like mental health symptoms “to just go away,” they do not. Mental illness can get worse over time without treatment. Early intervention enables people to gain coping skills, education and medication management at a point where it is valuable and able to make a significant impact. Early treatment can even prevent the need for medication or allow for minimal dosages to be affective.

Prevention of Escalating and Continuing Symptoms

People may end up having to manage symptoms that could have been prevented with earlier treatment. Early mental health treatment can reduce a person’s stress and enable an easier recovery. Long delays after the onset of symptoms to engage in treatment can make mild symptoms worse and more difficult to gain progress. With these delays a person’s symptoms can begin to affect many additional life areas and result in a need for an unexpected inpatient admission.

Increased Success, Motivation and Self-esteem

One of the hardest challenges people face is learning to admit when they need help. Seeking early mental health treatment can also increase a person’s overall self-esteem and motivation. Overcoming the challenge of seeking help and taking the initial steps to work toward wellness will motivate people to take on other challenges in life they may have been neglecting. Taking these actions increases mental and emotional wellbeing and further motivates people to pursue healthy lifestyles.

Reduction in Problems with Work, Family, School and Relationships

When a person identifies they are having mental illness symptoms, they can see it affecting many important aspects of their lives. Relationships deteriorate, and performance at school or work declines. They can also experience a loss of friendships, break-ups, family disputes, unemployment and dropping out of school or college.

The more severe the problems become, the more symptoms a person will experience. The diagnosis, treatment and path to wellness become severe and more difficult. Engaging in mental health treatment early will directly impact the spiral of symptoms and help the person learn beneficial coping strategies.

Improved Diagnosing, Medication Management and Treatment

Receiving treatment when the problems and symptoms are still minor can prevent the experience from becoming increasingly traumatizing. Early awareness makes it easier to for a person to self-identify early signs of recurring mental health symptoms. It also prepares a person with healthy coping skills to prevent recurring symptoms from becoming unmanageable.

Outpatient therapy is typically more cost-effective than inpatient care. Outpatient services earlier in your journey can offer a range of options with medication management, skill building, improved self-esteem and higher probability of a smoother successful path to wellness.

Participating in early treatment within the outpatient service programs gives a person the ability to integrate therapy into their daily life. This approach enables individuals to apply the skills and strategies they learn in therapy to their real-life situations. By practicing these skills individuals can make lasting changes and improvements in their mental well-being.

Outpatient Mental Health Programs

Outpatient mental health programs enable individuals to receive behavioral health care while still living at home. This type of treatment is typically less intensive than inpatient programs. It enables individuals to continue with their daily routines while receiving therapy. Outpatient programs are designed to vary in length and frequency, depending on the person’s needs.

Outpatient mental health programs at Old Vineyard include two different kinds of programs: Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) and Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs).

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) help individuals who need more intensive treatment than traditional outpatient therapy but do not need to be hospitalized. IOPs typically involve frequent therapy sessions, typically three to five times per week, for several hours each day. The treatment focuses on addressing specific mental health issues and providing support and coping strategies.

Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs) are more structured and intensive than IOPs. PHPs are designed for individuals who need a higher level of care but do not require 24-hour hospitalization. In PHPs, individuals attend therapy sessions and structured activities for several hours each day, usually five days a week. PHPs often include a combination of individual therapy, group therapy, medication management and various therapeutic activities.

Help Is Waiting at Old Vineyard Behavioral Health Services

It is never too late to reach out for help. Outpatient therapy gives you the flexibility, coping mechanisms, and care you need to blossom.

At Old Vineyard Behavioral Health Services, we understand that sometimes life just feels too heavy, but you are not alone. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, our compassionate team provides a judgment-free path to recovery. Old Vineyard’s outpatient programs treat adolescents, adults and seniors.

We are here to help out. Reach out at 855-602-5920 or complete this form to get started on your path to recovery today.

If you are in crisis and need assistance immediately, call 911 or 988 for the Suicide Prevention Hotline.

Old Vineyard Behavioral Health Services

Old Vineyard Behavioral Health Services is a treatment center that provides compassionate inpatient and outpatient treatment to help those achieve meaningful mental health and wellness. We treat a variety of behavioral health disorders including trauma, depression, mood disorders and more.

Our team of dedicated staff pride themselves on creating a safe and welcoming environment for all of our patients and their loved ones. Some of our services include our treatment, specialty and outpatient programs. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, we provide a beautiful, campus-like atmosphere.

To schedule a consultation with us or for more information, please call 855-602-5920.