Philadelphia’s Leading Suicidal Ideation Hospital

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

When an individual has recurring thoughts about ending his or her life, this is termed “suicidal ideation.” Individuals who are struggling with suicidal ideation may think about suicide in general terms, or they may go so far as to develop detailed plans about when, how, and where they may end their lives. Suicidal ideation is not a mental health diagnosis, but it is often a symptom of a mental health disorder, such as a depressive disorder, an anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.

No matter what has caused suicidal ideation, this is a problem that must be treated quickly and effectively. Comprehensive counseling and treatment can help lift these distressing feelings and help each individual uncover the underlying issues and causes that may have led to suicidal ideation. With a dedicated treatment team like ours at Belmont Behavioral Health System, a suicidal ideation treatment center in Philadelphia, individuals may begin to overcome these devastating issues and begin building a brighter future.

Helping a loved one get treatment for suicidal ideation

Unfortunately, suicide is a common issue in the United States. There are an average of 117 suicides in the United States every day. The issue is dire, but you may be able to help a loved one seek treatment. If you suspect that someone you care about is in danger of committing suicide, seek help immediately. It may help to consider the following:

• Share your care and concern with your loved one. Although suicide may be a difficult topic, do not avoid this individual if you suspect that she or he has been considering suicide. Open and direct conversations may be the beginning of life-saving change.
• If you suspect that the person you care about may be in danger of immediate suicide, call 911 or a national suicide prevention helpline immediately.
• Try not to blame, judge, or panic about the situation at hand. Know that you are not responsible for the emotions that your loved one is feeling. You will not be able to fix the situation in one conversation. The only thing you can do in the initial conversation is assess if your loved one is in immediate danger.
• If the immediate risk of suicide has passed, seek a treatment center for your loved one. Suicidal ideation does not just come and go. It requires specialized treatment in order to obtain lasting wellness.
• Suicidal ideation is usually an indication that a deeper issue, such as depression or other mental health disorder, is at hand. If your loved one seems better, it is still important to treat the underlying cause. Suicidal ideation is likely to return if the underlying cause is not addressed.
• Obtain support for this journey. Support groups are often available in many communities. Friends and family members may help ensure your loved one’s physical safety, help you research potential treatment centers, and join you in encouraging your loved one to enter treatment.
• Remember to care for your own physical and emotional needs. Consider counseling for yourself, and remember to eat healthy foods and get plenty of rest. If you are in the best condition possible, both emotionally and physically, you will be better able to help your loved one achieve wellness.
• Research potential treatment centers and what treatment methods work best for suicidal ideation. If your loved one is willing, help him or her enter the treatment center that you choose together.

It cannot be emphasized enough that suicidal ideation is often symptomatic of a mental health disorder and that recovery from this disorder can be a long-term effort. Plan to provide ongoing support to your loved one before, during, and after he or she is in treatment.

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

Common causes behind suicidal ideation include anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other conditions. If an individual fails to seek professional treatment once the initial risk of suicide has passed, he or she may be at risk for future suicidal ideation episodes. The mental illnesses or trauma behind these impulses will only go away with treatment. Suicidal ideation can prevent the individual from having healthy relationships, productive experiences, or a satisfying life. It is extremely important to determine the cause behind suicidal ideation and pursue treatment for the underlying causes.

The dedicated care team at Belmont Behavioral Health System, a hospital for suicidal ideation treatment in Philadelphia, has extensive experience in treating suicidal ideation and the causes and conditions behind this stressful experience. By taking time to explore the underlying issues behind suicidal ideation, the individual stands a better chance at a full recovery and a happier, more vibrant life ahead.

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

Our treatment center provides comprehensive inpatient care for children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients who have been experiencing a variety of behavioral health, mental health, and substance use disorders. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, our psychiatric hospital is housed on 13 serene acres, which provides our patients with the opportunity to heal in a comforting park-like environment.

Since the day we accepted our first patient in 1937, our hospital has been dedicated to offering the highest quality of care in manner that is best suited to meeting the unique needs of each person who is entrusted into our care. After nearly a century of service, we remain committed to providing personalized care, promoting continued improvement in evidence-based practices, and upholding the highest standards of the healing profession.

Because each patient receives care that has been specifically designed according to his or her unique strengths, needs, and treatment goals, no two individuals will have identical experiences while being treated at our suicidal ideations treatment center. Depending upon those specific factors, the following are among the elements that may be included into a patient’s treatment plan while in our care:

Medically monitored detoxification: In some cases, individuals who have been experiencing suicidal ideation also struggle with substance abuse and chemical dependency. For individuals who meet this description, and who have been incapable of ending their substance abuse prior to entering treatment at our hospital, we provide medically monitored detoxification services so that they can rid their bodies of their substances of abuse with maximum safety and minimal discomfort. Once an individual has completed detox with us, he or she can then transition directly into inpatient care.

Medication management: Having certain prescription medications incorporated into their treatment plans has provided significant relief for many individuals who have been struggling with suicidal ideation and other mental health disorders. If our initial medical evaluation indicates that a patient may benefit from medications, he or she may receive medication management services from the psychiatrists and certified registered nurse practitioners at our treatment center.

Individual therapy: Individual sessions between a patient who is being treated for suicidal ideation and a trained professional can provide valuable opportunities for the patient to process successes and setbacks, address specific issues related to his or her recovery, and receive essential guidance and feedback. At our treatment center, individual therapy and counseling sessions are provided for all patients, with frequency of sessions based upon the patient’s age, unit, and need. All children and adolescent patients will participate in daily individual sessions with a member of their interdisciplinary treatment team. Adult patients will meet with case managers, rehab service providers, social services providers, pastoral counselors, and other trainees and clinicians on an as-needed basis.

Group therapy: Group therapy is a foundational element of treatment for virtually all patients who are healing at our hospital for suicidal ideations, including those who are being treated for suicidal ideation. These sessions, which may be led by members of our social services, case management, rehab, and nursing staffs, provide excellent opportunities for individuals in treatment to share their insights, learn from the experiences of others, and practice healthy interpersonal communication skills within a structured, supportive, and professionally supervised environment. Group therapy is conducted multiple times during every treatment day at our treatment center. While the specific content of each group will depend upon the unique contributions of each participant, the following are among the topics that may be addressed in group sessions during a patient’s time with us:

• Behavioral activation
• ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)
• Values and goals
• Wellness and recovery action planning
• Dialectical behavioral therapy skills
• Self-care
• Spirituality
• Healthy boundaries
• Cognitive-behavioral skills and interventions
• Community meeting (each morning and evening)
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Stages of change
• Managing psychosis/illness management
• Peer-run groups
• The 12-step recovery model
• AA/NA support groups
• Medication education
• Meditation and mindfulness
• Building strengths and resilience
• Substance abuse
• Self-esteem
• Trauma focused interventions
• Aftercare
• Alumni support meetings

Family therapy: The impact of a behavioral and/or mental health disorder is rarely confined to the afflicted individual. Family members and close friends are likely to be affected by a person’s struggles with suicidal ideation, and these same individuals can also play an essential role in supporting their loved one’s recovery. At our hospital, we encourage family involvement throughout the treatment process, and we provide family therapy sessions so that loved ones can address individual issues, heal intrafamilial rifts, and learn how best to support the patient both during and after his or her time with us. For children and adolescent patients, family sessions may also focus on developing and implementing crisis and safety plans.

Experiential therapy: Experiential therapies complement more traditional forms of therapy by providing participants with alternative means of interacting with their environment, expressing their feelings, and addressing issues with which they may have been struggling. Art therapy, guided imagery, music therapy, and role playing activities are among the types of experiential therapy that may be incorporated into a patient’s treatment plan while he or she is receiving care for suicidal ideation at our suicidal ideations treatment center.

Education: Each weekday, children and adolescents who are being treated at our hospital receive at least two hours of academic instruction. All instruction is provided in a manner that is consistent with each student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) and takes place in a supportive environment that features small class size and low teacher-to-student ratio. A child and adolescent social worker works closely with the child’s family and all other involved parties to ensure that the educational component of the young person’s time in treatment is consistent with their expectations and is of maximum benefit to the student.

Other interventions: Patients who can benefit from the following types of interventions may also have these services included into their treatment at our hospital:

• Autism services: Patients with autism and their families may consult with a behavior specialist on our staff who is certified in autism studies.
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): Elective ECT is available for patients who choose to participate in this alternative form of treatment to relieve symptoms such as catatonia, psychosis, depression, and mania. ECT treatment is provided only upon the request of the patient.
• Internal medicine: All patients may receive internal medicine services on an as-needed basis. A physical exam is part of the admissions process, and an internal medicine physician is available to all patients throughout their time with us.
• Motivational speakers: Patients often have the opportunity to hear from volunteer speakers, many of whom are trained as certified peer specialists, about their experiences recovering from mental illness and/or chemical dependency.
• Nutrition consultation: All individuals at our hospital have access to our staff dietician as needed.
• Sensory Tool Awareness Routines (STAR): STAR enhances patients’ self-awareness, increases their sense of inner balance, and empowers them to exert greater control over their own lives through the development of skills that focus on the regulation of the nervous system.
• Welcoming committee/Active treatment: These initiatives, which are part of our ongoing effort to provide the highest degree of personalized care, feature resources that allow patients to take more active roles in their own treatment and recovery. Features include self-help materials that are designed to help patients continue their growth outside of the group therapy setting.

At our treatment center, we understand that for individuals who are dealing with disorders such as suicidal ideation, inpatient treatment is often just one step in the long journey of recovery. To ensure that each patient is best prepared to maintain and build upon the progress that he or she makes while in treatment with us, we begin planning for discharge the day the individual enters our treatment center. When a patient leaves our hospital, he or she will have a thorough plan that identifies the professional referrals, community-based organizations, and other external resources that will support his or her successful pursuit of long-term recovery.

For more information about any aspect of treatment at our center in Philadelphia, including answers to any specific questions you may have about treatment for suicidal ideation, please feel free to contact us at your convenience. We look forward to helping you determine if our hospital is the ideal place for you or a loved one.