Mental Health: Types of Treatment

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People are more comfortable seeking help for emotional challenges than ever before. But the good thing is that as the need for mental health services increases, so have the options for those services and how telehealth has increased access to services.

Knowing that help is available provides hope, but important questions like, “where do I go?” “what kind of services do I need?” remain. Thankfully, NOAH’s team has some answers.

This guide shares information about different types of mental health treatment. The type of treatment will always depend on each individual and situation. Learning about the different treatment options is important to address stigma around seeking professional help.

Here are the main types of treatment currently available in mental health: 

  • Outpatient Mental Health Treatment:

This is the most traditional level of care where individuals meet with a mental health provider either for psychiatric care and/or counseling services.  Patients meet anywhere from once a week, once a month, or as needed for care.  Outpatient treatment can include services like general mental health for adults, children, and groups; people with serious mental illnesses; specific programs for conditions like substance abuse and eating disorders. Treatment usually starts with a full assessment and creating an individualized treatment plan. This ensures someone gets the proper treatment and level of care.  Depending on the treatment setting, services could include mental health counseling, medication management, case management, and group therapy. 

  • Outpatient Intensive Programs:

Outpatient Intensive Program (IOP) usually refers to types of rehabilitation for individuals who suffer from addiction problems. But IOP can also help people who are facing different types of conditions like eating disorders and depression. This level of care allows people to continue an intensive treatment – typically between three to five days a week – while allowing them to go home, maintain a job, or engage in educational activities in-between treatments. IOP treatment includes group therapy often combined with individual counseling, case management, psychiatric care, and support groups.

  • Residential Mental Health Treatment:

This level of care focuses on a specific type of treatment for mental health. Some centers specialize in long term substance abuse programs while others may provide an intensive treatment for eating disorders.  These programs provide intensive treatment usually for 30 to 90 days and will help individuals learn skills for long term recovery.

  • Psychiatric Hospitalization or Inpatient Care:

This type of care and treatment is for individuals who might be experiencing severe emotional distress to the level of requiring close monitoring. Hospitalization or inpatient care can also be used to continually evaluate and properly diagnose people who need help with mood stabilization and medication adjustment.  Psychiatric hospitalization can be brief, typically 3 to 14 days. After that, the patient will get an evaluation and referral to a long-term level of care, IOP, or outpatient services.

No matter who you are or what you are going through, there is a treatment program and level of care that is right for you. Beyond what is listed above, there are also:

  • 24-hour crisis providers
  • Suicide prevention programs
  • Short-term or long-term residential programs for children with behavioral health conditions
  • Vocational rehabilitation programs for adults and adolescents
  • Different levels of care for substance addiction and eating disorders
  • Referrals to 12-step programs, support groups, and alternative treatments

Life will have challenges. Some days and life experiences will be more difficult than others. But now you know there are programs and support to help you overcome these challenges. One of the benefits of working with NOAH is the integrated approach to healthcare. By working with mental health providers to address those concerns, you will improve other areas of your health as well. Additionally, a medical doctor or nurse can make a simple referral for additional services throughout NOAH. Learn more or request an appointment today.

Women’s Health Week – What You Need to Know About Cervical Cancer

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Women’s Health Week is May 12 – 18, making this a crucial time to talk about a major health issue affecting women globally: cervical cancer. Despite medical progress, this disease still affects women of all ages. That’s why awareness and prevention are so important. Understanding these aspects can give women control over their health, helping them make smart choices about screenings and vaccinations, and help to save lives.

What is Cervical Cancer and What Causes it?

Cervical cancer is a cancer that forms at the lower end of the uterus. Most cervical cancers are caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), the most spread sexually transmitted infection (STI). HPV is so common that nearly all sexually active people get the virus at some point in their lives. Most people’s bodies will naturally fight off the virus, but for those who can’t fight it off, HPV can lead to health issues like cervical cancer later in life. The good news is, cervical cancer is preventable and treatable if caught early.

How Can I Lower My Risk of Cervical Cancer?

First, get regular Papanicolaou (Pap) screens/tests. According to the CDC, only 66% of women over the age of 18 have had a Pap test in the past three years. Pap tests are covered by private insurance and Medicaid/AHCCCS and are the best way to diagnose any problems.

Second, get the HPV vaccine if possible. It is safe and very effective at reducing the risk of getting HPV-caused cancers later in life. The CDC estimates that around 90% of cervical cancer cases could be prevented by the HPV vaccine.

How Often Do I Need a Pap Test?

It used to be that Pap tests were recommended every year. With what we know now about HPV and cervical cancer risk factors, that recommendation has changed. The new recommendation for people also being tested for HPV is every three years for people aged 21-29, and every five years for people 30-65.

Who Can Get HPV Vaccines?

Typically, the three-dose HPV vaccine is recommended for males and females around age 11 or 12. We wrote all about the HPV vaccine here!

Schedule an appointment today to discuss your cervical health and take proactive steps towards prevention.

Prescription Delivery to NOAH Health Centers

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NOAH is thrilled to let you know that we’ve made some changes to make getting your prescription medications even easier.

If you’re part of NOAH’s Sliding Fee Scale Program and want to keep getting your medications at a discounted rate, you have four convenient options: you can pick them up at NOAH’s Cholla Pharmacy or have them delivered to NOAH’s Desert Mission, Palomino, or Copperwood II Health Center for pick-up.

Additionally, prescription delivery to NOAH’s Copperwood II Health Center is available for Sliding Fee Scale and insured patients.

To make sure you get your medications accurately and on time, here’s what you need to do:

For New Medications:

  • Let your provider or medical assistant know that you want NOAH’s Cholla Pharmacy to be your preferred pharmacy.
  • If you choose Cholla Health Center for pick-up:
    • Your medication may be ready for pick-up as soon as the same day.
  • If you choose Copperwood II Health Center, Desert Mission Health Center, or Palomino Health Center for pick-up:
    • Your provider or medical assistant will take care of the details and ensure your prescription is ready for pick-up the next business day if ordered before 3 p.m.
  • If you want to check the status of your order for any pick-up location, you can call the pharmacy at 480-903-3560.

For Existing Prescriptions:

If you already have prescriptions filled elsewhere, you can easily transfer them to NOAH’s Pharmacy by calling your provider. NOAH providers can be reached via MyChart or by calling 480-882-4545.

Please note controlled substances are not available for prescription delivery services.

NOAH’s full-service pharmacy located at NOAH’s Cholla Health Center is open to anyone including NOAH patients and community members. For more information, you can reach our pharmacy at 480-903-3560.

Can’t Decide? It Might be Anxiety

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By Jillian Irwin, LMFT | Counseling

Decision-making is a fundamental aspect of daily life, but for some individuals, it can become a source of stress and uncertainty. The struggle to make decisions, especially significant ones, may indeed be linked to anxiety. Here’s a closer look at how anxiety can impact decision-making processes.

Indecision and Anxiety

Anxiety can manifest in various ways, and one common symptom is indecisiveness. Individuals with anxiety may find it challenging to make decisions due to several factors:

  • Overthinking – Anxiety often leads to excessive worry and overthinking, making it difficult to weigh options and come to a conclusion.
  • Fear of Making Mistakes – Anxiety can create a fear of making the wrong decision, leading to hesitation and second-guessing.
  • Perfectionism – Some individuals with anxiety have high standards for themselves and fear that their decisions won’t meet these standards, leading to indecision.
  • Anticipatory Anxiety – This is anxiety about anxiety. The anticipation of potential negative outcomes can paralyze decision-making, as the individual becomes focused on avoiding perceived risks.

Impact on Daily Life

Difficulty making decisions due to anxiety can have significant consequences in various areas:

  • Personal Life – Simple decisions like what to eat or wear can become overwhelming, leading to procrastination or avoidance.
  • Work or School – Choosing projects, tasks, or making career-related decisions may be challenging, affecting productivity and progress.
  • Relationships – Anxiety-driven indecision can strain relationships, as the inability to make choices or express preferences may lead to misunderstandings or conflict.
  • Emotional Well-being – The constant stress of decision-making can contribute to increased anxiety levels and lead to other emotions such as guilt, helplessness or frustration. This can affect overall mental health and well-being.

If anxiety is affecting your ability to make decisions or has other impacts on your daily life, you’re not alone. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, nearly 20% of adults in the United States have some kind of anxiety disorder. For mild cases of anxiety, you can try to manage your symptoms at home.

Addressing Decision-Making Challenges

Managing anxiety-related decision-making difficulties involves a multi-faceted approach:

  • Recognize Anxiety – Acknowledge that anxiety may be contributing to indecisiveness and seek support from mental health professionals for assessment and guidance.
  • Practice Mindfulness – Mindfulness techniques can help reduce anxiety levels, improve focus, and promote clearer thinking during decision-making.
  • Set Realistic Expectations – Challenge perfectionistic tendencies by setting realistic expectations for decisions and accepting that not all outcomes will be perfect.
  • Seek Support – Talk to trusted friends, family members, or a therapist about decision-making challenges and explore strategies for coping with anxiety in decision-making situations.

By addressing anxiety and developing coping strategies, individuals can regain confidence in their decision-making abilities and navigate life’s choices more effectively. If you need help managing or even diagnosing your anxiety, start by scheduling an appointment with a NOAH primary care provider, counselor, or psychiatrist. Your NOAH Care Team will partner with you to develop the right treatment plan for you.

Counseling and psychiatry services are available for ages 6 and up. Most insurance plans are accepted at NOAH (including all AHCCCS Medicaid plans) and a Sliding Fee Scale offers reduced rates for those that qualify based on household income and family size. For more information about eligibility, contact NOAH Community Resources.

It Might Be Time for Your Annual Medicare Wellness Visit

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Are you or a loved one on Medicare insurance? If so, wellness should be top-of-mind and the good news is, it’s covered starting with the Medicare Wellness Visit.

The wellness visit through Medicare isn’t the traditional head-to-toe physical that most people are familiar with. The Wellness Visit covered under Medicare is an annual visit to identify and reduce any health risks your healthcare provider might find.

Wellness Visits Matter

The Medicare Wellness Visit, while not a traditional physical, is a tool for your medical provider to find gaps in your healthcare. The questions asked during the visit are specific and help to narrow down concerns while allowing your healthcare team to provide better care.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

At the wellness visit, we take a complete health history using a questionnaire from Medicare to understand a patient’s needs. If this is the patient’s first Medicare Wellness Visit, we will start with an EKG. Then your provider will discuss findings from the questionnaire and address concerns about your health and wellness.

Providers will do a limited physical exam to check blood pressure, weight, vision, and other things depending on a patient’s age, gender, and health history.

During the visit your provider can make referrals to specialists, order labs, and discuss necessary imaging and diagnostic tests like mammograms or colorectal cancer screenings. We will also talk about the risks and signs of depression, trips and falls, and other health and wellness concerns.

Our goal is to create a personalized prevention plan together to help prevent disease and disability according to your health and risk factors.

What Not to Expect at Your Appointment

This isn’t a traditional physical. It may sound like it is, but there are distinct differences. The Medicare Wellness Visit allows healthcare providers to have a baseline for health and wellness that Medicare knows is important to this patient group.

Providers don’t generally address existing chronic health conditions or refill prescriptions at this appointment. The visit is specific to finding and addressing any new concerns and planning for the next year’s healthcare with the patient.

Scheduling a Medicare Wellness Visit every year is important and NOAH is here to help you stay on track.

If this is your first appointment at NOAH, we recommend you schedule a primary care appointment before your Medicare Wellness Visit. We want to get to know you, your health history, and discuss preexisting or chronic conditions ahead of time in order to create the best healthcare plan for the year ahead.

REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT