The Best Teen Suicidal Ideation Treatment Center in Valdosta, GA

Understanding the Treatment for Teens with Suicidal Ideation

When one is experiencing ongoing thoughts about death, including thinking about ending one’s own life, a person is grappling with suicidal ideation. Often indicative that an individual is battling a mental illness or illnesses, ideations of suicide can be all-consuming and greatly disrupt a person’s ability to function in daily life. And while many people assume that this is a concern that impacts the lives of just adults, the truth of the matter is that many teens struggle with this sort of issue. Young people are just as, if not sometimes more, vulnerable to struggling with some sort of mental health condition, which can then make them susceptible to experiencing suicidal ideations. Given the fact that untreated suicidal ideations can lead to a disastrous outcome, it is important for a teen to seek and receive proper effective care as soon as possible.

In choosing to come to Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital, parents and legal guardians can rest assured that we are uniquely prepared to help their son or daughter overcome a variety of mental health concerns. Whether your child is suffering from suicidal ideation brought on by a mental disorder, or some other concerning issue, our staff of dedicated professionals is dedicated to improving the lives of young people and their families. Since we first opened our doors, we have been able to help countless people heal and recover from suicidal ideation, and we believe we can help your child too.

Helping Your Teen Get Treatment

Learning that your child has been thinking about ending his or her own life can be quite troubling for any parent or guardian. For you, as the person who cares the most about your son or daughter, you may be unsure as to what you can do to help during this difficult time. However, as your child’s advocate, there are several steps you can take to help your teen at this time. Consider the following steps:

• Speak with a mental health professional in your area to learn about the treatment options available to your child. During this same conversation, ask about ways in which you can speak to your teen about the need for treatment.
• Enlist the help of other concerned loved ones so that a safety plan is in place should your teen require immediate help in the event he or she attempts suicide. This plan can include calling 9-1-1 or going to the nearest emergency room for assistance.
• Talk to your teen about how he or she has been feeling. If he or she conveys a plan to take his or her own life, along with a means and time frame, please seek immediate help. If he or she does not, but is open to you about his or her feelings, talk about the need for treatment.
• Should your teen begin a program, make sure that you remain engaged in his or her care. In doing so, you will be showing him or her that you are there for support.

Finally, make sure that you take care of yourself as well. In order to be of the best help to your teen, you must make sure that you are as rested and rejuvenated as possible. Try to do what you can for yourself to remain healthy so that you can continue to be there for your child in the best ways possible.

Why Consider Treatment at Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital in Valdosta, GA

Unfortunately, when a person, especially a young person, grapples with suicidal ideation, thoughts and feelings about death are likely to become more grim if proper care is not sought. Suicidal ideation typically indicates that an individual is battling some sort of mental health concern, which can also become worse as time goes on without treatment being received. Whatever illness is present can trigger the onset of another disorder, and the use and abuse of substances can also happen. A teen’s academic performance, ability to make or maintain healthy peer relationships, and ability to achieve personal goals can all decrease the longer treatment is delayed.

Furthermore, when a youth suffers from suicidal ideation for a long period of time, self-harm and suicide attempts may occur. For these reasons, it is imperative that effective treatment is received as soon as it becomes apparent that a teen is struggling with ideations of suicide.

Treatment Options for Teens Offered at Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital

Located in Valdosta, Georgia, Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital is a pioneering provider of world class mental health and substance abuse treatment for individuals of all ages. Since treating its first client, this 113-bed center has offered a supportive and caring environment in which teens, men, and women can come to heal and grow into healthier and more productive beings.

At Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital, we understand how difficult adolescence can be when a mental health condition is present. For this reason, we are proud to offer acute inpatient programming for teens between the ages of 12 and 17. When engaged in this invaluable program, young people benefit from compassionate support from our staff and time-tested therapeutic interventions that are proven to help teens successfully manage mental health and substance use concerns. Additionally, each teen is afforded highly personalized care in the form of individualized treatment planning that takes into account each young person’s needs and goals for treatment.

Once the streamlined admissions process is complete, our staff will determine the methods of care that can best address the treatment requirements of the youth. Once done, the teens treated at Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital will then experience a blend of the following effective interventions:

Medication management services: Teens who come to Greenleaf for the treatment of suicidal ideation may require pharmaceutical intervention in order to stabilize and more effectively manage their symptoms. When this is the case, our expertly trained psychiatrists will work closely with each teen and his or her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) so that it can be conclusively determined if medication is necessary. These same staff members, along with the other mental health professionals at Greenleaf, are able to monitor the administration and effectiveness of any medication prescribed so that each young person who receives this type of care will experience the most favorable treatment outcomes.

Detoxification services: For some teens, substance use concerns are present at the same time as suicidal ideation. Because of this fact, we are pleased to offer detoxification services so that harmful substances of abuse can be cleared from teens’ bodies in order for them to progress in their healing processes. Detoxification is a closely monitored service, as the health and wellbeing of the adolescents we treat are our top priority.   

Individual therapy: Since each teen we treat is a unique person, with varying strengths, needs, and treatment initiatives, we purposefully include individual therapy in the care available to young people needing treatment for suicidal ideation. During individual therapy sessions, teens will be able to meet with a member of our staff so that they can talk about concerns that they may not feel comfortable discussing in a group setting, process their past experiences and how they are doing in treatment, and work to establish goals for the present and future. These sessions are scheduled on an as-needed basis and can be monumentally helpful for the young people entrusted into our care, as they enable teens to receive the individual attention they deserve.

Group therapy: A great deal can be gained when one is able to receive encouragement and support from others who are grappling with similar concerns. At Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital, the treatment we offer teens includes daily group therapy sessions so that each young person is able experience peer support, practice coping skills, and process through their feelings and emotions with other teens who may have experienced similar struggles. When a youth comes to us battling ideations of suicide, these sessions can be integral in helping him or her develop the confidence needed to heal and become well again. Among the topics covered in group therapy sessions, the following are those that are commonly featured:

• Addictive behaviors and triggers
• Effectively expressing emotions
• Life skills
• Stress management
• Anger management
• Communication skills

Experiential therapy: At Greenleaf, we recognize the importance of remaining active and creative beings while working towards healing from suicidal ideation. Given this fact, we are proud to offer recreational and creative opportunities to the teens we treat so that they can experience healing on all levels. Depending on each teen’s needs, we facilitate physical fitness activities and creative art projects that are supervised by the dedicated staff who are providing treatment at our hospital.

Family therapy: We have found that the young people we treat tend to thrive and experience more favorable treatment outcomes when they have positive support from the individuals who are closest to them. For this reason, our adolescent programming includes family therapy sessions with a member of our compassionate staff. As a teen learns to manage the symptoms of suicidal ideation, he or she also learns to rely on the support of loved ones, and family members are given the support and guidance for how they can best help the young person once he or she returns home. Family therapy sessions are also designed to help mend the emotional wounds of the past so that the family unit can move forward as a united front.  

Family education: For the parents and legal guardians of teens struggling with suicidal ideation, it may be confusing to know what exactly to do to help someone grappling with this type of mental health concern. For this reason, we offer parents and legal guardians support and guidance in the form of education while their children are in our care. During family education opportunities, our staff will do the following:

• Inform those closest to our clients on how to best support their child during and after treatment is complete
• Explain the effects of mental illness on their children’s emotions and behavior
• Provide them with the resources needed to help their children thrive long after leaving Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital

Discharge planning: At Greenleaf, we strive to improve the lives of all we treat and arm them with the confidence and skills needed to be healthier. Each teen who is treated for suicidal ideation benefits from the aforementioned methods of care, and is also afforded a thorough discharge plan so that they can continue to be successful in managing suicidal ideation. Discharge planning at Greenleaf is an ongoing process that aims to address each teen’s barriers to wellness, and attempts to put resources in place so as to ensure that a life of improved mental health is achieved.

Continuing Care and  Aftercare Planning

Once a teen has successfully completed our acute inpatient program, he or she may be recommended to participate in a lower level of care so that his or her healing journey can continue. Depending on the recommendations set forth in the youth’s discharge plan, Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital offers both a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and intensive outpatient program (IOP). These two outpatient treatment options are designed to help teens working to decrease ideations of suicide slowly transition back into their communities by providing them with the additional services needed to become well again.

As a leading provider of mental health and substance abuse treatment, Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital is pleased to offer the high quality care teens need to address, process, and manage such concerns. We firmly believe that we can help your child learn to better handle the symptoms of suicidal ideation, and we look forward to providing you with the support you need to help this special person in your life. If you would like to learn more about Greenleaf, our treatment methods, how we can help your child, or to begin the process of admissions, feel free to contact us at your convenience.

At Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital, we are uniquely prepared to help your teen build the foundation for a healthier future.