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Behavioral Health

Treatment for Mental Health Disorders

Located on the campus of Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, the Behavioral Health Center provides psychiatric emergency and inpatient psychiatric treatment services for the assessment and treatment of acute psychiatric emergencies and mental health issues. The Behavioral Health program is comprised of four units with 90 licensed beds. Patients are evaluated in a secure, safe environment and treated by an interdisciplinary team of psychiatrists, clinical therapists, nurses, and occupational therapists whose goal is to help patients lead more healthful and productive lives.

What is a Mental Health Emergency?

Mental health crises are not as easy to identify as the typical medical emergency, especially if the person has never been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Far too often, people try and ignore the symptoms of a mental health problem. We are accustomed to thinking of injuries and fevers as the tell-tale signs of a medical issue, but the mental strain of depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental health issues should not be understated. These symptoms also cause physical symptoms, including sleeping difficulties, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Symptoms of mental health crises include:

  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Drafting suicide notes
  • Difficulty getting out of bed or performing daily tasks like brushing teeth, getting dressed, etc.
  • Using drugs or alcohol to cope with difficult thoughts
  • Irregular sleeping habits
  • Loss of appetite
  • Hallucinations
  • Paranoid ideas

Thoughts or talk of self-harm or harming others are clear signs of a mental health emergency, and you should seek medical attention immediately. Remember that these are symptoms of a disease and they can be treated with the right help. The goal of psychiatric services is to help patients handle difficult feelings so they can live happier, healthier lives. There is always a way forward.

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