Making the decision to enroll yourself or a loved one in residential treatment can be difficult. It’s hard for young adults to leave their daily life, or for parents to send a teen away from home. However, the long-term benefits of this choice can be life changing. Research shows that the structure and ongoing support of a residential program is the most effective way to achieve long-term recovery from depression, anxiety, trauma, and co-occurring behavioral issues like substance abuse and self-harm.
Here are the top benefits of residential treatment and the reasons why this level of care provides the most impactful and sustainable healing for teens and young adults.
A fresh start in a new environment
Research shows that changing your environment entirely can be significantly beneficial for your mental health. Creating a geographical distance between their past and their future can help young people resolve old wounds, break habits that aren’t serving them, and make a new start. Equally important, stepping out of an unhealthy environment minimizes exposure to old trauma and anxiety triggers, as well as access to alcohol and substances. Without the distractions, difficulties, and responsibilities of everyday life—whether that’s school, work, or family and peer relationships—teens and young adults can focus entirely on healing and growth, supported by a caring community of peers and mentors.
Access to the highest-quality treatment options
When researching mental health options, it’s natural to begin the search close to home. However, the best mental health treatment for an individual’s specific diagnosis and needs may not be available locally. In fact, as a result of the current shortage of mental health providers and treatment programs, the likelihood is that the right program won’t be in your immediate area. Making the choice to travel for care means that you have access to a broad range of options, including programs specifically designed to address teen and young adult mental health concerns. Learn the five top indicators of quality mental healthcare.
Authentic connections
For teens and young adults struggling with mental health issues, difficult relationships with peers are a major factor in depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Whether they’re experiencing bullying, a painful breakup, or an unsupportive friend group, relationship issues can have a tremendous negative effect on young people. In a residential program away from home, clients have the opportunity to build trusting relationships with peers who truly understand what they’re going through, in an environment that values honesty, openness, and mutual support. Young people experience—sometimes for the first time—what it’s like to be their full, authentic self.
Structure and self-care
There’s a difference between learning healthy behaviors and actually doing them on a daily basis in order to build a habit. In a residential treatment program, young people have a built-in structure that supports the development of new, positive self-care practices. At Newport Healthcare, each client has a tailored treatment plan, with daily schedules that include ongoing individual, group, and family therapy; academic and life skills education; experiential activities; and time for self-reflection, creative expression, and connection with self and others.
New experiences
Treatment can be challenging—and healthy, supported challenge is a powerful path to growth and change. Experiential activities in particular build young people’s self-esteem, skills, and ability to navigate change and take healthy risks. The benefit comes from stepping outside the box within a safe, supported container that allows teens and young adults to push themselves in positive ways. Experiential activities at our teen and young adult locations nationwide range from sledding, zip lining, and snowboarding at our Minnesota locations to kayaking, surfing, and paddle boarding as part of our California programs.
A springboard to the next stage of growth
Young people and parents sometimes worry that taking time off school or work will create problems when they return from treatment. However, the best residential programs help clients close the gaps they may be experiencing in their education or work life. At Newport, we help teens to build motivation and engagement with learning, and support young adults to gain life skills and plan for a future career that aligns with their talents and interests. When they go back to their home school, college, or workplace, our alumni are better equipped to succeed, both emotionally and practically—with new organizational tools, stronger executive functioning, and enhanced resilience.
An investment in a bright future
Traveling for care results in better success rates, as long-term residential treatment (30–45 days minimum) is proven to yield higher rates of sustainable recovery. While the distance, time, and financial investment may seem daunting at first, there is nothing more important than your teen or young adult’s well-being. Don’t wait for symptoms to resolve themselves—the likelihood is that, without treatment, mental health and behavioral issues will get worse, not better. When it comes to mental health conditions and treatment, taking the steps to move from awareness to action can literally save the life of a teen or young adult.
Get Started Today
Are you seeking care for yourself, a client, or a family member? Newport Healthcare offers phone or in-person assessments at no charge for adolescents and young adults. Our Clinical Outreach team supports mental health and healthcare providers, employers, school professionals, and families around the country to find the right level of care and experience a seamless admissions process to one of our treatment programs—or another program we have personally vetted. We’ll help you find a location with immediate availability, because the best time to seek care is always sooner rather than later.
Learn more about our programs and contact us today to get started.