Our mental health dictates every aspect of our psychological, social, and emotional well-being. It is responsible for our thought processes, our feelings, and our actions. Many of us may take our mental health for granted; however, if you are struggling with it, you then become keenly aware of how intrinsically valuable mental health is. From childhood to old age, mental health is key in our daily lives and interactions, not to mention our happiness. This is why valuing and understanding mental health is important for everyone.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Many people experience mental health problems due to any number of reasons, including:
- Hereditary mental health problems
- Traumatic or abusive experiences
- Other biological factors
For those suffering from a mental health disorder, help is available, and mental health improvement is possible.
What Do Mental Health Facilities in Chicago Do?
Mental health facilities in Chicago treat a wide variety of mental health problems in individuals as they help them to recover and to return to their normal healthy selves. Most facilities have on-staff doctors, nurses, clinicians, and other mental health professionals who provide diagnoses and treatments depending on each unique case.
What Kinds of Patients Do Mental Health Facilities Treat?
Mental health facilities treat patients suffering from mental health disorders, illnesses, or other psychiatric challenges that have been creating an imbalance in their lives. Some of the mental health concerns that people may seek treatment for include:
Depression
Regular feelings of sadness for no apparent or explicable reason
Anxiety
Common feelings of anxiety, often accompanied by panic attacks
Bipolar (Manic-Depressive) Disorder
Vacillating feelings of extreme mania and depression
Schizophrenia
Experiences of delusion, hallucinations, or hearing voices, among other symptoms
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive thoughts, leading to compulsive behaviors
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Symptoms appear after a very traumatic or stressful event and are often triggered by memories of the event
Self Harm
Coping with stressful feelings by harming self in a wide variety of ways
Psychosis
Delusional thoughts wherein reality and experiences differ from the shared reality and experiences of others
Suicidal Tendency
Thoughts and possibly even attempt to take one’s own life
Other Mental Health Concerns
According to Mental Health America, there are more than 200 classified forms of mental illnesses in addition to the more common struggles that are listed above.
What Services Do Mental Health Facilities in Chicago Provide?
Different mental health facilities in Chicago provide various services depending on their capabilities and depending on the needs of the patient. But, commonly, mental health services in Chicago offer the following essential services:
Assessment
Assessment is the first form of service that a typical mental health facility provides. A mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, conducts a complete assessment of the individual. This assessment may require the patient to undergo multiple tests (mostly question-based) about family history, day-to-day life, etc. In addition, the professional may conduct a more intensive, therapy-like session with the patient to delve deeper and assess more accurately.
Diagnosis
After a thorough assessment is complete, most mental health facilities will then provide a medical analysis of the assessment and share the diagnosis with the patient.
Treatment
After assessment and diagnosis, the next step is treatment. Treatments can range from medication, mental health therapy, psychotherapy, hospitalization, support groups, or self-help plans. It is dependent on the individual’s diagnosis, needs, and desires.
Counseling
An expert at the facility uses therapeutic techniques to help patients manage mental health concerns. This may be daily, weekly, or simply as needed. There are also a variety of counseling services available at many mental health facilities, including individual sessions and group sessions.
What Does a Mental Health Treatment Program Look Like at CRC in Chicago?
At CRC in Chicago, you are met where you are at. There is not a “one-plan-fits-all” system but rather an individualized approach to finding the treatment plan that is right for you. When it comes to mental health, it is important to treat the entirety of a person rather than simply focusing on one issue: That is CRC’s goal — to treat the whole person and offer a wide range of available treatment options. There is not simply one formula that works for everyone. Some people find that yoga, meditation, and a changed diet influence their symptoms. Others may only respond to certain medications. That is why it is so critical to receive a customized plan that is right for you.
There are many mental health facilities in Chicago, and finding the right one is an important step in optimizing your overall health. What makes mental health treatment at Chicago Rehab Center (CRC) unique is that CRC is an integrated center for healing with a focus on the whole person. While some mental health facilities specialize in treating the diagnosis only, CRC’s integrated center has a team of top-rated individuals in their fields — all ready to help optimize your health and well-being. From meditation to group therapy, Chicago Rehab Center offers many options to aid you on your journey. CRC in Chicago is not about labeling, attaching stigmas, and focusing on treating a specific illness or disease. Instead, CRC believes in healing, connection, optimization, and inclusion. The focus is on who you are, what you need, and where you are on your path to health.
If you would like to get more information about receiving an evaluation or possible treatment at CRC’s mental health facility in Chicago, please contact CRC.
Dr. Beth Dunlap, a board-certified addiction medicine and family medicine physician, is the medical director at CRC Institute, where she is responsible for overseeing all the integrated medical services at the Institute. Beth completed medical school, residency, and fellowship at Northwestern University, where she continues to serve on the faculty as a member of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. She has extensive experience in addiction medicine at all levels of care, and her clinical interests include integrated primary care and addiction medicine, harm reduction, and medication-assisted treatment.
