Philadelphia’s Leading Depression Hospital

Learn about depression treatment at Belmont Behavioral Health System in Philadelphia, PA

When a depressive disorder is present, an individual can suffer from a number of symptoms, including hopelessness, sadness, lack of energy, and recurrent thoughts of death. There are a number of different types of depressive disorders, including major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and a depressive disorder caused by another medical condition. All types of depressive disorders will vary in symptoms. If someone you love is exhibiting symptoms synonymous with depressive disorders, it can be beneficial to obtain treatment. Well-rounded care can help your loved one stop battling with symptoms and begin living a healthy life.

Belmont Behavioral Health System, a hospital for depression treatment in Philadelphia, offers comprehensive support and care for those suffering from depressive disorders. Through evidence-based treatment and individualized care, our staff can help you or your loved one work towards overcoming the symptoms of depression, while also treating any other underlying mental health conditions or addressing any other concerns in a safe and supportive environment. We know that depressive disorders can greatly impact the lives of both individuals who are suffering from them, as well as their loved ones, which is why we remain committed to delivering quality care that treats the whole person.

Helping a loved one get treatment for depression

If your loved one is battling a depressive disorder, it is not uncommon for you to feel overwhelmed and stressed out. However, it is important to know that you can play a major role in helping your loved one obtain the treatment he or she needs. Even though you might feel as though there is nothing that you can do, there are plenty of things that you can consistently do to ensure that your loved one starts moving in the right direction:

• Speak with your loved one, letting him or her know that you are concerned about his or her overall wellbeing. Be sure to approach your loved one in a way that does not threaten him or her, meaning that you should talk clearly, calmly, and fairly. Allow him or her to share his or her thoughts and feelings, and remain patient. Doing so can help your loved one view you as a safe and nonjudgmental person in whom he or she can confide, which can help him or her in the long run.
• Conduct as much research as necessary to educate yourself about all aspects of depressive disorders. Learn about the causes, the symptoms, and the effects of these conditions. Doing so will help you obtain a stronger understanding of your loved one’s condition, as well as prepare you to help him or her in an appropriate manner.
• Develop a support system for yourself. It is impossible to manage a loved one’s condition on your own, which is why it is so imperative to have people help you in the mission to get your loved one treated.
• Be sure to take good care of yourself at this time so that you can keep up the mental and physical strength needed to help your loved one to the best of your ability. Do not stop doing things you enjoy or taking time for yourself just because your loved one is sick.

Why consider treatment for depression at Belmont Behavioral Health System in Philadelphia, PA

Not obtaining treatment for a depressive disorder can lead to significant destruction throughout all parts of an individual’s life. Individuals who grapple with depression are more likely to suffer from problems in work or at school, conflict within interpersonal relationships, unemployment, and financial concerns. Also, those with depressive disorders can also struggle with social isolation, which can cause them to miss out of the importance of a solid support system, easily pushing them further into the trenches of their depression. Losing a job and, as a result, struggling financially, can also impact an individual’s ability to live life the way he or she wants to, which can add to one’s feelings of low self-esteem. All of the issues that stem from untreated depressive disorders can increase one’s chances of struggling with suicidal ideation and attempts. However, when effective professional treatment is obtained and implemented, the men and women who battle the symptoms of a depressive disorder can obtain the care they need so they can begin living happier, healthier lives.

Types of depression treatment offered at Belmont Behavioral Health System in Philadelphia, PA

When looking for depression treatment, you or your loved one may have been searching broadly for “depression treatment centers near me?” In Philadelphia, there is one clear choice. Our depression treatment center is a psychiatric hospital that provides care for children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients who are struggling with psychiatric concerns, substance abuse, and co-occurring mental health problems. Each year, we care for approximately 3,500 individuals in our inpatient treatment center alone.

Founded in 1937 as a 60-bed psychiatric treatment center, we have grown to exceed the dreams of our founders, and we pride ourselves on being established members of our community in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Our campus is situated on 13 acres of land in a park-like setting that provides a serene environment in which to help individuals overcome mental health difficulties.

Treatment at Belmont Behavioral Health System, a depression treatment center in Philadelphia, is based on a foundation of individualized care. We recognize that each person who comes to heal with us brings a unique set of strengths, needs, and treatment goals. We are committed to developing care plans that are tailored for each person who struggles with depression. At our hospital, no two treatment plans are the same, and our treatment is so successful that 92% of individuals who receive inpatient care are discharged home, instead of to other levels of care, after treatment has ended.

Our depression treatment center offers a wide range of interventions across various levels of care. These interventions include the following:

Medically monitored detoxification: We recognize that individuals with psychiatric disorders may also struggle with substance abuse issues that can interfere with their ability to manage the symptoms of depressive disorders. As a result, we provide detoxification services at our treatment center that allow individuals to safely withdraw from substances of abuse under the watchful eye of our physicians and nursing team. While we are unable to provide detox services for individuals using methadone or Suboxone, we are able to maintain those treatments for individuals who are already taking these medications.

Medication management: Many individuals who are struggling with mental health disorders, including depressive disorders, benefit from including medications in their treatment regimen. At our hospital for depression, every patient meets with a member of our medical team for an initial medication evaluation and ongoing daily medication monitoring.

Individual therapy: Patients can make substantial progress in their treatment for depression when they have a regular opportunity to process emotions, triumphs, and setbacks within the safety of a one-on-one therapeutic relationship. To support this progress, we provide regular individual therapy for every patient at our treatment center. The frequency of sessions varies based on the patient’s age, unit, and need, as determined through collaboration between the patient and his or her treatment team. Patients meet with social services providers, case managers, rehab service providers, pastoral counselors, and other trainees and clinicians as recommended by the treatment team. Children and adolescents have daily individual therapy with members of their treatment team.

Group therapy: In addition to individual therapy, group therapy forms the backbone of treatment for depressive disorders at our treatment center. Led by members of our social services/case management, rehab, and nursing teams, group sessions are offered daily and provide a chance for patients to learn and practice coping skills while supporting and being supported by their peers. Our groups, provided at least twice daily, are focused on recovery and resilience and operate in modalities such as music therapy, leisure, art therapy, peer support, occupational therapy, talk therapy, psychoeducation, and creative expression. Groups cover a wide range of topics, some of which include:

• Substance abuse
• 12 Steps
• Healthy boundaries
• Cognitive-behavioral skills and interventions
• Self-esteem
• Self-care
• Stages of Change
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Medication education
• Managing psychosis/illness management
• Trauma-focused interventions
• Building strengths and resilience
• ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)
• Meditation and mindfulness
• Values and goals
• Spirituality
• AM/PM Community Meeting
• Wellness and Recovery Action Planning
• Behavioral activation (ceramics, ice cream social, exercise/yoga, art, music, activities/games, team building/challenge course, etc.)
• AA/NA support groups
• Peer-run groups (motivational speaker series & Face to Face Friday)
• Dialectical behavioral therapy skills
• Aftercare

In addition to these groups, patients are invited to attend monthly alumni support meetings that give them an opportunity to speak with alumni from our hospital and explore methods for achieving long-term success in treatment.

Family therapy: Our more than 80 years of experience treating mental illnesses like a depressive disorder has shown us that one person’s mental illness often affects his or her entire family. In addition, family support can sometimes make the difference between relapse and long-term success. As a result, we emphasize family involvement and therapy throughout a patient’s stay at our hospital. Our treatment team works with parents, grandparents, and other caregivers in order to develop the most complete treatment solutions that will best enable our patients to thrive after treatment. Our case managers meet with family members, schools, community agencies, and other organizations to develop coordinated discharge plans. On our child and adolescent units, family sessions can also include development and utilization of crisis and safety planning, development and utilization of coping and communications skills, exploration of the family dynamic, and ways to improve interpersonal skills within that dynamic.

Experiential therapy: Individual and group therapy are of enormous benefit, and we have found that patients at our treatment center also benefit from involving more of their bodies and minds in their recovery process. Experiential therapies use embodiment and sensory experiences to deepen individuals’ engagement in treatment, increase empowerment, and promote a sense of safety. Some of these interventions include:

• Music therapy
• Art therapy
• Guided imagery
• Role playing

Education: For children and adolescents in our care, we recognize the importance of ensuring continuity in their education so that they are not forced to choose between mental health care and academic success. Children and adolescents attend two hours of schooling per day, receiving instruction that is specially tailored around their Individual Education Plans (IEPs). The social worker works closely with the child or adolescent and the Pennsylvania Child and Adolescent Service Program (CASSP) throughout the patient’s length of stay at our hospital to ensure all services are planned collaboratively with the patient, his or her family, and all agencies involved in the child or adolescent’s life.

Other interventions: As a leading provider of mental health care in Pennsylvania, we are equipped to offer a number of other interventions to those in our care. Some of these include:

• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT):Individuals who are seeking alternatives to medication, or those for whom medications are not working, can elect to receive ECT for symptoms including depression, psychosis, catatonia, and mania. This form of treatment is quite safe and completely voluntary. Treatment generally involves a series of treatments two or three times a week for six to twelve treatments. In addition, maintenance treatments are often provided on an outpatient basis for the prevention of symptom relapse. Services are provided by certified ECT physicians, one of whom is our treatment center’s Medical Director. The ECT physicians oversee ECT-trained nursing staff and an external group of certified registered nurse anesthetists.
• Nutrition consultation: All individuals at our hospital have access to our staff dietician as needed.
• Motivational speakers: We recognize that it can be superbly helpful to hear from other individuals who have learned to manage mental illness, and we bring volunteer speakers, many of whom are trained as certified peer specialists and who have lived experience with mental illness and addiction, to our treatment center to offer personal insights into the challenges and successes of the recovery journey.
• Internal medicine: We provide internal medicine services to all patients at our hospital. Our admissions process includes a physical exam, and consultation with an internal medicine physician is available throughout the course of a hospital stay.
• Sensory programming (STAR Program): Individuals’ bodies can be powerful allies in the pursuit of improved mental health, so our STAR program (Sensory Tool Awareness and Routines) is used to foster an increased sense of safety, self-awareness, and control over patients’ lives by teaching tools which help to balance and regulate their nervous systems.
• Welcoming committee/Active treatment: As a part of our commitment to individually tailored treatment, we recognize that some individuals can benefit from interventions outside of groups, and we have developed resources that further allow patients to take treatment into their own hands. Within this intervention, we give patients a brief assessment and self-help materials to allow them to continue their growth outside of groups. We are also developing materials for individuals whose dominant language is not English.
• Autism services: Our on-staff behavior specialist is certified in autism studies and provides consultation on behavioral interventions for individuals with autism and families of those individuals.

Because recovery from a depressive disorder is a journey, we recognize that inpatient care is only the beginning for many individuals. As such, our treatment teams, and especially our case workers, work with schools, community agencies, and other organizations to develop coordinated and integrated treatment and aftercare plans. We begin planning for discharge from day one of treatment so that our patients leave our hospital in Philadelphia into the welcoming arms of community-based support and external resources, maximizing patients’ ability to continue the progress they made in treatment.

Belmont Behavioral Health System is your choice for depression treatment when you or your loved one asks the question: what is the best depression treatment center near me?