Mental healthcare can occur at several levels of care and involve a broad scope of therapies and support services.  When you are seeking professional help, one of the first decisions you and your provider may need to make is to determine whether you will be best served by inpatient or outpatient mental health treatment.

If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health challenges, help is available. Call us today or visit our Admissions page to learn how we can provide the support and care you need.

Levels of Mental Health Treatment

Once you and your provider have made a decision regarding inpatient vs. outpatient mental health treatment, the next step is deciding which program or programs within these two categories are right for you.

Inpatient

There are two levels of mental health treatment that involve patients living at the facility where they are receiving care, inpatient and residential. Here’s a quick overview of each:

• Inpatient treatment: This is the highest level of care, and it is typically reserved for patients whose symptoms have significantly impaired their ability to function. Inpatient programs are usually short-term environments, with the goal of helping patients achieve the level of stabilization that will allow them to step down to a lower level.
• Residential care: This level is designed for patients whose symptoms aren’t severe enough to warrant inpatient treatment, but who still need round-the-clock supervision. Residential programs usually offer longer lengths of stay, which may range from a few weeks to a month or longer, as well as a greater variety of therapies and support services.

Outpatient

Outpatient mental health treatment encompasses three levels of care, none of which have a residential component:

• Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs): Patients who receive care in a PHP often participate in full days of treatment, five days per week. Similar to residential programming, treatment in a PHP may involve multiple types of therapy and related support services. When the PHP is not in session, patients may return to their home or to a supported residence.
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs): This level of outpatient care usually involves a few hours of treatment each day. Depending on individual need and the parameters of the program, patients may attend treatment two to five days per week. 
• Outpatient programs (OPs): This level offers the greatest degree of flexibility, and can be a valuable source of long-term support. Patients in an OP may attend individual or group therapy sessions on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis, or at whatever other frequency is best for them.

When considering inpatient vs. outpatient mental health treatment, it’s important to remember that there’s no correct or incorrect path. 

Some people start in an inpatient or residential program, then step down to the PHP, IOP, and or OP levels for continued care. Others may only receive care at one or two of the levels discussed in this post.

What’s most important is finding a provider who will work closely with you to identify which program or programs can best prepare you to make sustained progress toward a healthier future.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Mental Health Treatment

Now that we’ve discussed the fundamentals of these various levels of care, let’s take a look at some key similarities and important differences between inpatient vs. outpatient mental health treatment.

Similarities

The specifics a person’s time in either inpatient or outpatient care can vary considerably depending on their needs and the parameters of the facility where the are being treated. In general, though, common features of both levels may include:

• Staffed by teams of skilled and experienced professionals
• Treat both primary and co-occurring mental or behavioral health conditions
• Provide personalized treatment plans for each patient
• Offer multiple types of therapy
• Help patients learn to better manage their symptoms
• Encourage patients to play active roles in their treatment
• Develop discharge plans to support patients’ continued progress after they have transitioned out of treatment

Differences

Key differences between inpatient vs. outpatient mental health treatment can include:

• Hours of treatment: On a daily and weekly basis, inpatient and residential programs will usually feature more hours of treatment than patients receive in PHPs, IOPs, or OPs.
• Length of stay: Though outpatient programs offer fewer hours of daily and weekly treatment, patients frequently remain in these programs for a longer period than they would if they were receiving inpatient care.
• Types of treatment: Inpatient and residential programs typically offer a greater variety of therapies and support services than outpatient programs do.
• Independent living: When treatment is not in session, PHPs, IOPs, and OPs give participants the opportunity to practice their developing skills in real-world environments. At the IOP and OP levels, participants may work, take classes, volunteer, and otherwise engage in a healthy and productive lifestyle when not attending treatment sessions. These opportunities are not available at the inpatient or residential level.
• Scheduling flexibility: IOPs and OPs offer significantly more scheduling flexibility than PHPs, residential treatment, or inpatient programs do. At the IOP level, patients may have options regarding how many days they attend sessions, as well as when they attend these sessions (as some IOPs offer both afternoon and evening options). OPs offer the greatest flexibility, with patients having considerable influence over when and how often they receive care.

To reiterate what we mentioned earlier in this post, no level of care is inherently right or wrong for someone who has been struggling with a mental illness. What’s most important is finding the level or levels that best align with your specific needs, goals, and preferences. 

Call Us Today to Explore Your Inpatient vs. Outpatient Mental Health Treatment Options

Valor Behavioral Health is a trusted provider of personalized outpatient care for adults and adolescents whose lives have been disrupted by mental illness, addiction, or both. 

Programming options at our outpatient treatment center in Atlanta, GA, include a PHP, an IOP with day and evening options, and an OP. At each level of care, we offer age-appropriate services in separate programs for adolescents and adults.

To learn more about inpatient vs. outpatient mental health treatment, or to discuss how Valor Behavioral Health can help you or a loved one, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.