Discovery Behavioral Health Opens New Center in San Jacinto, CA For Adolescent Mental Health

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Mar 03, 2020, 08:03 ET

LOS ANGELES, March 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Discovery Behavioral Health, an expanding nationwide provider of behavioral health services, has opened a new facility in San Jacinto, located in Riverside County in the Inland Empire metro area of Southern California. Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program San Jacinto is a 19-bed, coed, adolescent (11-to-17-year old), mental health residential program with a substance use track.

The center, housed in a newly remodeled facility in a residential setting, is now accepting patients for enrollment.

There is a great need for mental health services for teenagers throughout California including Riverside County. In 2018, California ERs treated 84,584 young patients ages 13 to 21 who had a primary diagnosis involving mental health. That is up from 59,705 in 2012, a 42% increase, according to data provided by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. By comparison, the number of ER encounters among that age group for all other diagnoses grew by just 4% over the same period.

The trend corresponds with another alarming development: a significant increase in suicides among teens and young adults. About 7.5 of every 100,000 young people ages 13 to 21 in California died by suicide in 2017, up from a rate of 4.9 per 100,000 in 2008, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nationwide, suicides in that age range rose from 7.2 to 11.3 per 100,000 from 2008 to 2017. In Riverside County, the youth suicide rate increased from 5.3 per 100,000 in 2007 to 7.7 in 2017.

"Youth treated for mental health in an emergency room are typically already in a mental health crisis, and frequently are considering suicide, have attempted suicide or have harmed themselves physically. The research is still out as to why mental illness is increasing so dramatically among today's youth. In the meantime, our goal is to intervene with youth experiencing mental health issues before it reaches a crisis stage," says George Livengood, vice president of Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program.

The mood and anxiety program offers personalized, evidence-based treatment for mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder trauma, self-harm and adoption or attachment issues. A defining feature of the program is the use of individual therapy as well as and "milieu" and "process" group therapies.

Milieu group allows patients to join with one another to develop and foster empathy for self and others, encourage one another, improve communication skills, acquire problem solving skills, and gain confidence in the acknowledgement and sharing of one's story. During groups, patients define their world view and beliefs by using Cognitive Behavior Therapy techniques, while restructuring thought content impacting mood and behavior. They learn how to implement distress tolerance skills, communication skills, empathy, acceptance, and the ability to create an emotional and psychological safe zone for themselves.

Milieu groups provide additional opportunities to unleash right-brain creativity through artistic expression of visual art, music, movement, poetic writing, journals and dramatic interpretation.

Process Groups provide a deeper exploration of life issues with an opportunity for reflection to gain insight and awareness, and a vocal acknowledgement of shared experiences in a community of hope. This process is featured in Multifamily Process group as well as providing families with psychoeducational information, and skill development opportunities to support their loved while in treatment and beyond.

While the mental health and substance-use-disorder treatment programs are separate and distinct, both Discovery programs share a commitment to treat the underlying factors contributing to the disorders. As a result, patients completing the programs leave with a foundational resiliency, making them better equipped to navigate the challenges life presents outside of treatment.

Medication management is by board-certified psychiatrists, and includes individual sessions, medication education, psychopharmacology groups, and collaboration with families and outpatient providers.

Says John Peloquin, CEO and president, Discovery Behavioral Health, "Our first priority in deciding where to open a new treatment center is to determine if it fulfills a need for the community. In this case, we became aware that the Riverside County and Inland Empire area was underserved by evidence-based mental health services designed specifically for adolescents. Many of our youth today are experiencing unprecedented mental health distress, and we must respond by providing treatments that address their unique generational issues."

For more information about Discovery Mood and Anxiety Program: https://discoverymood.com. For more information about Center for Discovery eating disorder treatment: https://centerfordiscovery.com

About Discovery Behavioral Health

Discovery Behavioral Health is an in-network, leading U.S. healthcare provider in the evidence-based treatment of substance abuse, mental health and eating disorders. It offers residential, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient care for teens and adults. The company was established in 1998 and is headquartered in Orange County, California. More: https://discoverybehavioralhealth.com

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SOURCE Discovery Behavioral Health