Texas Health Arlington Memorial is adding more mental health programs in the wake of a recent increase in life stressors faced by adolescents and adults.
This expansion was vital to provide even more individuals and families with the care and support that they need to improve their mental health and well-being, according to Aliza Hirani, Director of Clinical Services.
“Many stressors arose because of the pandemic, such as social isolation, children suddenly doing virtual schooling at home, and adults who lost their jobs or had to adjust to working from home,” Hirani said. “As a result, repeated studies have shown that more people experienced mental health issues like depression and anxiety and even drank more to try to cope.”
That hit especially close to home for one Behavioral Health Center Arlington nurse, whose 16-year-old son was recently enrolled in a partial hospitalization at the center. He gave permission to talk openly about his experience.
“He was happy, always going out dancing, always fun,” Mora said in a statement released by the center. “It was a shocker. I got a call from his father saying he was in the hospital and that he had called the cops and told them he wanted to commit suicide.”
During his hospitalization, Mora’s son was attended to by nurses, doctors and therapists for two weeks, including daily group therapy.
“Most parents don’t seek help, especially in our community as Hispanics. They feel like, ‘Oh,
it’s just a phase. They’ll get over it,’” Mora said. “But he didn’t want to talk to us about it. Now
he’s doing so much better. He’s taking his medication. He’s more interactive, smiling. Mental
health struggles are real, and they can happen to anyone.”
Expanded services include the following:
- Partial Hospitalization programs: Patients are not admitted overnight but have access to a nurse and doctor, as well as group therapy five to six hours every weekday.
- Intensive Outpatient Care programs: Patients take part in three-hour group therapy sessions three days a week.
New services include the following:
- Women’s Partial Hospitalization Program: In-person group therapy where women can address issues and challenges in a safe, therapeutic setting including postpartum depression, menopause, domestic violence, and sexual abuse.
- Women’s Intensive Outpatient Program: In-person or virtual group therapy for women to address issues including postpartum depression, menopause, domestic violence, and sexual abuse.
- Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program: In-person group therapy offered from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to help adolescents ages 13 to 17 struggling with issues such as depression, anxiety, bullying, abuse, trauma or boundaries to balance school and their mental health without sacrificing one for the other.
- Adult Co-Occurring Disorders Program: In-person group therapy tailored for adults who struggle with both mental health and substance use issues.
For more information on the mental health services available at Texas Health Arlington Memorial, visit texashealth.org.
