Partial Hospitalization Programming for teens can make a difference

Being a part of a PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) can truly have an impact. It is an effective mode of treatment for teens because it offers freedom to continue to connect to both home and positive peer support systems. When inpatient support is not needed or a teen has completed a stay in the hospital, being assessed for and attending PHP helps the teen expand on skills they have learned or maybe already have, and teaches them how to use them with confidence and in a variety of life’s situations.

It is not easy being a teenager. PHP is an opportunity for them to build coping skills and gain insight into themselves and their behavior. Teens have a chance to practice in PHP with a group of peers learning how to transfer skills to real life settings and explore the how and why of behavior.

To learn more about this program or to set an appointment for a free, confidential screening, please call the Lake Behavioral team at 855-990-1900.

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May is Mental Health Month

Since 1949, May has been the month chosen to focus on mental wellness; reducing stigma and promoting mental health. The National Alliance on Mental Illness indicates in much of its literature that 1 in 5 of us, that is “one of us”, will be affected by mental illness in our lifetime. With that in mind, one of the biggest ways to put stigma in check is to acknowledge the “of us” and accept that you may have a time in your life when you are just not functioning well. You may be feeling down, anxious, or even feeling like life is just too hard. Do what NAMI would ask us to do: remember that people can and do recover from mental illness. The caveat is that acknowledgement, support and professional intervention may all play into moving from unwell to well. Let’s take a look at how.

Professional help is key.

Although this is not an all-case scenario, if you have been feeling like your relationships are failing, your work or school efforts are lower than usual, or you can’t manage the basics of daily living like getting up on time, getting dressed, and sleeping and eating on regular schedules, and it has been going on for two weeks or more (National Council for Community Wellbeing) maybe professional support is a good choice. You should always seek help in a crisis: when you are having suicidal thoughts, when you are thinking about hurting someone else, or if someone is hurting you; but know that you don’t have to be in crisis to look for some support, to look at a problem, or to gain insight into something that just does not feel right. You always have a choice, but don’t let something small grow into something bigger and less manageable.

Here’s why you might consider finding the right professional:

  1. You get help, you won’t be in it alone.
  2. You’ll have someone who will objectively listen.
  3. You can gain insight into solving your problems.
  4. You will find out what barriers are blocking your efforts.
  5. You can set some measurable goals and a timeline for making them happen with someone who can help you be accountable.
  6. You can work through trauma if that is the foundation for your challenges.
  7. You will have a chance to practice and process skills in real time.
  8. You’ll learn about therapies like Cognitive and Dialectical Behavioral Therapies that are evidence-based and proven to have positive impact.
  9. You will feel better about you!

Once you have connected with a professional who feels right to you (remember you are a consumer and looking around and making the choice that is just right for you is important) you can ask about whether inpatient hospitalization, outpatient, intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization is the best level of care for you in the moment.

Most behavioral health hospitals, like Lake Behavioral Hospital have free, confidential screenings that help determine what level of care will be most helpful.

Be a consumer.

You can make your own choices as you look for professional help. Here are some ways to find the right professional:

  1. Talk to people you know. Ask your doctor, your pastor and friends if they have resource ideas for you. If your work has an Employee Assistance Program, you may be able to get some sessions for free.
  2. Ask the professional you have chosen for an initial interview where you can ask questions about their therapy, their expectations and your expectations. Don’t feel like you have to stay with the first professional you call, look for a connection and interview several if you must.
  3. If you are in crisis, you can go to any Emergency Room or go to a behavioral health hospital like Lake Behavioral Hospital. One of the benefits of a facility like this is that many professionals: mental health technicians, nurses, social workers and psychiatrists, will be a part of your treatment during your stay and you will probably connect with more than one professional that makes a difference for you.
  4. Check with your insurance company to see what therapies are covered. Sometimes your insurance may cover certain therapies and a select group of professionals. Some companies provide incentives or discounts for taking care of yourself. Check your plan.

Treatment works when you work it!

Get the most out of your treatment program by being active and questioning. Every question is worth asking. Here are some other ways you can participate:

  1. Have some goals of your own. Lots of treatment providers help you develop goals; bring your own ideas.
  2. Listen to new ideas for finding your strengths and ask lots of questions. Be open-minded.
  3. Be ready for feelings. Treatment can open old wounds, but it will also give you a chance to practice the coping skills you are learning. Go with the flow.
  4. If you have concerns, voice them.
  5. Be candid and thorough. Tell your story.

Do you need more than just talk therapy?

At Lake Behavioral Hospital, you will have nurses and a psychiatrist who work with you. The team may decide that medication will benefit you. Many patients find that medication makes a difference in mood, clarity and impulsivity. Some feel the reduction in symptoms is very favorable and life-enhancing. There can be side effects of any medications and your treatment team will help educate you and manage this during your stay. There should be constant evaluation and lots of opportunity to ask questions or voice your concerns. Keep a journal of questions and reactions. The most important thing to do will be to get educated; here are some things you may want to know.

  1. What is the goal of the medication?
  2. How long does it take to work?
  3. What schedule do I follow?
  4. What are the side effects?
  5. What can be done about side effects?

 The cost of treatment:

If you have private insurance, check your plan. Find out what is covered and if there are any steps you must take to receive your benefits. If you have Medicaid, ask the treatment providers you interview to find out if a Medicaid plan is covered. You may also get a directory at your Medicaid office or online. If you have Medicare, check for service offerings as well. To find out more about service offerings for your type of insurance coverage, check the back of your insurance card for the Customer Service Support line. If you have no funding, there are services available, but you may want to check with 211 or use the “SAMHSA helpline”. Using just that phrase to look it up and calling the number provided will put you in touch with a navigator who help you find services near you.

There is help and hope.

In Lake County, you can call 211 to get lists of resources for everything from housing to mental health. Nationally, dialing 988 will get you in touch with a mental health counselor who will make sure you are safe and connect you geographically to services that will help you right away. Texting help, hello or MHA to 741741 will put you in touch with a counselor who will discuss what is going on and help you find support.

Convenient and easy:

If you or someone you love needs help, know that the team at Lake Behavioral Hospital will be there. Calling 855-990-1900 and making an appointment for a level of care screening or walking in and asking for Screening and Referral will put you in touch with qualified mental health professionals who will help you find the level of treatment that is just right for you, right now. Seeking help is self-care and that is what Mental Health Month is all about!

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Welcome Samantha “Sam” Peritz to Lake Behavioral Hospital

Samantha Peritz profile picture

The team at Lake Behavioral is delighted to introduce you to the newest member of our Outpatient Programs and Leadership Team. As you may know, our current programs in outpatient include Adult Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization (PHP) programming for adolescents. Samantha Peritz is the new Director of Outpatient Services, where she will be working with her team to provide programs that will help our patients grow and learn about themselves, mental health and recovery. “IOP and PHP are important because they are the midway point between inpatient and individual levels of care.,” says Sam, “I like to think of it as ‘wrap-around-care.’ These kinds of programs are where people can find insight and learn self-advocacy. In working within their groups, they learn how to ask for help and problem solve. People who learn these skills will find them invaluable. They will become resilient and stay resilient in their recovery.” Sam comes to us with a wealth of experience in both inpatient and private practice settings. We wish her luck and encourage you to come meet her or call her to learn more about IOP and PHP. You can always find your Lake Behavioral team members at (855) 990-1900.

If you know someone who could benefit from our outpatient programs, please call the number above. By appointment or walk-in, 24/7/365, we are here to help.

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The Lake Behavioral Partial Hospitalization Program

The Lake Behavioral Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is a mental health treatment program where teens ages 13-17 learn about themselves and mental health in a group setting several hours each day, Monday through Friday. Teens take part in the program during the day and return home at night. PHP is a short term program, lasting approximately 2-3 weeks, depending on each teen’s needs and individual progress.

There are two means of program entry. Teens may utilize this program as a step down from inpatient treatment. In this way, they will have an opportunity to continue working on the goals made in the inpatient setting. Teens may also be admitted into PHP without a stay in our hospital. Sometimes this is just what is needed to help avoid a hospitalization.

Once someone seeks treatment for a mental health condition, a team member in Screening and Referral provides a screening to help determine the level of care that is right for each individual. Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is for teens who:

  • Are not in acute crisis
  • Are medically well; medically stable
  • Are experiencing difficulty at school and/or at home
  • Have support to insure treatment success
  • Are willing to participate in program activities
  • Have a mental health condition or a co-occurring mental health condition and a substance abuse disorder

A typical week consists of group therapy, psychoeducation, skill-building growth and practice, along with a weekly one on one with a psychiatrist, who can provide medication management if needed. Family or guardian support sessions are provided to help cement the teen’s success and help guardians and parents understand programming. School work is provided by licensed teachers so teens do not miss school time and school credit while in PHP.

Lake Behavioral Hospital will provide transportation to and from PHP. Since teens are in the program for several hours each day, both snacks and lunch are provided.

To learn more about PHP, please call Screening and Referral at 855-990-1900. Our team will help you schedule an appointment for a free, confidential screening. Walk-ins are accepted.

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Lake Behavioral Hospital offers Partial Hospitalization

Lake Behavioral Hospital offers Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) Programs. Each of these are group-based programs providing therapeutic support for individuals who are struggling with conditions and mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, trauma, and bipolar disorder that reduce a person’s ability to function well in relationships, daily routines, and work or school.

Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is both a structured and intensive mental health program for adolescents ages 13 and up. PHP provides group therapy and skill development. Our IOP is for adults and can be attended during the day and virtually in the evening. Medication management is available to our patients in our outpatient programs and separately for those who need that specialized support.

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Lake Behavioral Hospital offers IOP

Getting help is sometimes difficult. Your world of family, work, bills, and responsibilities doesn’t stop because you are feeling unwell. You know, however, that if you don’t find some support you are going to continue to unravel and your ability to cope with your depression, addictions that relate to that depression, anxiety and trauma will continue to be poor. Many people seek the help they need in Intensive Outpatient Programs at Lake Behavioral Hospital. IOP offers you the opportunity to have real world experience where you can practice skills you learn in IOP immediately at home, in your community, and at work. This program, for adults, can be attended during the day, 5 days per week or virtually in the evening. Your recovery works when it works for you.

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In the news

Another school shooting and three children and three devoted school staff are lost. Rising anxiety and even panic among our students, of all ages, relate directly to the feelings that this can happen anywhere and at any time. Mental health problems, in general, are on the rise and these events further fuel conditions like depression and anxiety for our youth and their families.

You could not turn on the TV over the last couple of days without video of a shooter going from room to room at an elementary/middle school with a high-powered rifle. Chances are our kids didn’t miss it either; absorbing the raw fear that goes with knowing that the person was out to kill. These are high profile events with high profile impact. Whether a student was actually involved in such a catastrophic happening or not, the effects are devastating. Our youth are internalizing fear of violence and that may manifest itself in panic attacks, overall anxiety and depression. They simply don’t have the capacity, as their young brains are still developing, to see this as anything other than a direct relation to something that can imminently happen to them.

Feeling unsafe, worrying about guns in a school environment and not feeling in control of being able to prevent these actions from occurring is wearing our kids down. If we were honest, we could probably say that even as adults, this is wearing us down as well. The American Journal of Preventive Medicine uses the term, “vicarious trauma” as a means of explaining that news-related exposure to school shootings, and even just hearing people talk about them, produces the potential for long term fear, anxiety and depression.

If your child is not bouncing back after they learn of these events, be vigilant. Make sure to talk with your child about their feelings and let them process it at their own pace. Post trauma occurrences are not to be rushed. It takes time.

Young people in our country have shown increased rates of depression, anxiety and suicidality. If your child is experiencing trauma related-depression or anxiety, or has expressed unrelenting fear or suicidal thoughts, don’t hesitate to call Lake Behavioral Hospital. We can help. A free, confidential screening will determine what level of care is the best fit for your child. Please call, (855) 990-1900.

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New Agreement Improves Access to Care for Kenosha County Residents

Lake Behavioral Hospital can now make a bigger difference for Kenosha County residents in need of psychiatric care. An intergovernmental agreement signed into effect earlier this month will allow Kenosha County and local law enforcement agencies to utilize Lake Behavioral Hospital for Chapter 51 mental health detentions. The six-year process to discuss and develop the agreement was worth the effort, as it will increase access to care for those in mental health crisis and reduce the burden on local agencies and law enforcement. For more information on the agreement, click here.

Lake Behavioral Hospital, located in Waukegan, provides inpatient and outpatient mental health services for adolescents and adults. Free, confidential screenings are available 24/7 by calling (855) 990-1900.

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Valentine’s Day: A Good Day for Good Mental Health

Candy, flowers, cards and a special someone on your arm as you walk into a fancy restaurant for a delicious Valentine’s Day celebration is the perfect picture. Social media posts are highlight reels of the very best of times: all smiles and happy moments. These flawless pictures, frozen in time, can lead to pressure and sadness for some who just can’t seem to “fill the big shoes” of the perfect Valentine.

Let this Valentine’s Day be the most relaxed and enjoyable ever. Set some priorities and just have fun. Celebrate with people who matter to you. Make “celebrate” a word that doesn’t mean spending lots of money. Celebrate at home, order some great take-out and watch an old movie. Enjoy your Valentine’s Day as a family. Make cookies together. Have surprise grab bags at each place setting at dinner (love those dollar store gifts!). Have a candy heart race (find it online, it is fun!).

Be a difference-making Valentine! Send cards and letters to friends and family. Drop off cookies to neighbors. Just let people know you care. Have fun with the kids’ Valentine cards; they are very reasonably priced and come in themes. Consider dropping those off at nursing homes, homeless shelters, and food pantries. Someone will appreciate being thought of on Valentine’s Day.

Positive mental health is important. Just being you, surrounding yourself with people who make you feel special, and doing things you love and finding ways to give back are all ways to make this Valentine’s Day, positively healthy!

Your team at Lake Behavioral Hospital wishes you love, caring and compassion on Valentine’s Day. If you find yourself struggling with feelings of isolation and sadness, you know you can call us. By appointment or as a walk-in, you can ask for a free, confidential screening. This will help you determine just what level of care and support will make things feel better for you. Calling 855-990-1900, will connect you with a caring professional. Call; we can help.

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Black History Month Facts

February is Black History Month. Each February offers us an opportunity to learn about the contributions of African Americans to our nation. The theme for 2023 is Black Health and Wellness where we specifically honor African Americans in the medical and healthcare arena.

The beginnings of Black History Month began as a result of Carter G. Woodson, who has been given the title of the “Father of Black History”. By 1926, he was working to make sure that there was a designation of time for Black History. Negro History Week, was the first real focus on black culture and honors for black efforts in all areas across the United States. Black History Month morphed from Negro History Week.

It took 50 years for Black History Month to be formally recognized. Gerald R. Ford called upon our nation’s citizens to recognize “the neglected accomplishments of Black Americans.” Barack Obama reiterated and re-established the importance of experiencing Black History Month as a way of strengthening America.

February was chosen as Black History month as it contains the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas. This seemed the perfect month to celebrate both emancipation and the accomplishments of African Americans past and present.

Here are some ways to learn and grow in your knowledge of the influence and impact of African Americans:

  1. Read or listen to the amazing stories on black history through National Public Radio.
  2. Visit your local bookstore; most have special displays on black history.
  3. Just Google it! Read up on historical black figures.
  4. Listen to famous speeches by a host of black Americans throughout our history.
  5. Use your library to select books that you can share as a family.
  6. Volunteer in the name of Black History Month and begin a tradition of honoring those who have made a difference in the face of incredible challenges and adversity.

Make Black History Month purposeful and meaningful for you and your family.

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