Suicidal Ideation Treatment Center & Clinic in North Mississippi

Learn more about suicidal ideation treatment at Millcreek of Pontotoc

Suicidal ideation can be a terrifying experience for children and teens. Characterized by persistent, invasive thoughts about how a person would end their own life, suicidal ideation can involve fleeting thoughts, or can turn into detailed, well thought-out plans. While the majority of people who suffer from suicidal ideations do not actually go on to make suicide attempts, the longer that these thoughts remain unaddressed, the more overwhelming the ruminations can become, ultimately resulting in an individual’s just wanting the consistent turmoil they feel each day to come to an end. There is help available that can put an end to these devastating thought patterns.

At Millcreek of Pontotoc, a suicidal ideation treatment clinic in North Mississippi, we recognize the unique, and often overwhelming, challenges that come with having a child or teen who is suffering from suicidal ideation. Remaining sensitive to the needs of this population of children and teens, we offer specialized suicidal ideation treatment that is tailored to meet the individual needs of each child or teen who is entrusted into our care. Situated on 18 beautifully shaded acres of serene landscape, our 51-bed psychiatric residential suicidal ideation treatment center provides caring and compassionate treatment for children and teens between the ages of 6 and 20 who are struggling with an array of mental, emotional, and/or behavioral concerns, including suicidal ideation. In this safe and secure setting, the behavioral and educational needs of these emotionally disturbed children and teens can be addressed as they develop the skills they need to learn how to manage their symptoms, overcome their negative thought patterns, and take the first step towards the happy, healthy, and bright future they deserve.

Helping your child or teen get treatment

While the presence of suicidal ideation can be tormenting for the child or teen who is plagued by it, it can also be terrifying for their family as well. Sadly, the vast majority of children and adolescents who experience suicidal ideation will not ask for help. Whether it be because they are ashamed of their thoughts, or because they do not want to frighten their loved ones, or because they are unsure as to how to put a label on their torment, it is unlikely that they will verbalize their inner turmoil. However, there can be some warning signs present that may indicate that your child is experiencing suicidal ideation. Examples of such warning signs can include:

• Insomnia
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Talking and/or writing about death
• Verbally threatening to harm oneself
• Engaging in self-injurious behaviors
• Drastic mood swings
• Giving away personal possessions
• Acting out in reckless manners / participating in risky behaviors
• No longer participating in things once interested in
• Isolating oneself from family and friends
• Drop in academic performance

The presence of any of these warning signs, or any other behaviors that have caused you concern, should be taken seriously. Even if you are not sure as to the severity of your child’s thoughts and behaviors, it is always better to err on the side of safety. Having your child evaluated by a mental health professional is the first step in assessing your child’s current mental state and in determining what the most appropriate level of care should be in order to provide him or her with the treatment he or she needs.

Why consider treatment for suicidal ideation at Millcreek of Pontotoc in North Mississippi

If your child or teen is suffering from suicidal ideation, and you are able to recognize their need for a serious intervention, you are probably wrestling with different ideas for ways in which you can best be of help to them. While it may be a difficult decision to make, admitting your child or teen into a residential suicidal ideation treatment clinic can be one of the best things that you do for them.

Residential suicidal ideation treatment clinics have proven effective in helping children and teens overcome the distressing symptoms of suicidal ideation, while also addressing any other concerns that may be present. Suicidal ideation is oftentimes symptomatic of mental illness, and by taking part in a residential treatment clinic, such mental illnesses can be appropriately diagnosed and treated. In this type of setting, children and teens are given the opportunity to step away from the stresses and triggers of their everyday lives, temporarily removing them from situations that may elicit suicidal thoughts, and enter an environment where their sole focus is to become well again. Through a variety of therapeutic interventions, residential suicidal ideation treatment clinics can help children and teens confront their maladaptive thought processes, learn coping skills to overcome the symptoms that cause them distress, and help them rebuild their sense of self-worth as they embark on the path towards a bright future.

Millcreek of Pontotoc’s treatment philosophy and benefits

At Millcreek of Pontotoc, a suicidal ideation treatment center in North Mississippi, we are dedicated to helping children and teens lead healthier, more productive lives. By using our clinic’s multidisciplinary treatment team approach to care, we are able to afford our patients comprehensive suicidal ideation treatment plans that integrate their specific developmental, emotional, behavioral, and educational needs into their individualized plans of action for receiving thorough care. All children and adolescents in our treatment clinic benefit from having their own treatment teams which are comprised of psychiatrists, clinical therapists, nurses, teachers, and other healthcare professionals who formulate their treatment plans in conjunction with parents or guardians. When your child or adolescent comes to our suicidal ideation treatment clinic in North Mississippi for treatment, you can rest assured that they will be provided with the most optimal level of care possible in order to ensure that they leave treatment feeling successful, enriched, and fully prepared for the future.

Types of suicidal ideation treatment offered at Millcreek of Pontotoc in North Mississippi

At Millcreek of Pontotoc, located in North Mississippi, we understand that making the decision to place your child or teen into a residential treatment clinic can be difficult. We also understand that the process of doing so can seem intimidating, which is why we strive to make the admissions procedure as smooth, easy, and streamlined as possible. In an effort to be as accommodating as we can be, our highly trained and qualified suicidal ideation treatment staff is able to conduct psychosocial assessments over the phone, or in person, so as to allow for the admissions process to be a quick one. Once admitted for care, every child and teen will undergo a thorough evaluation process that includes physical, educational, psychological, and psychiatric assessments, of which the results will be added to the information provided by the initial psychosocial assessment. This thorough evaluation process allows the staff at Millcreek to gain a full understanding of each child’s unique developmental, emotional, and educational needs. Taking into account all of the information received throughout the course of these evaluations, an individualized suicidal ideation treatment plan is then devised for each child or teen. The various aspects of the therapeutic interventions that your child or teen will be afforded as part of their treatment plan may include the following:

Medication management: In some instances, the implementation of psychotropic medications may be beneficial in helping to alleviate additional symptoms of mental health disorders in children and teens who are experiencing suicidal ideation. Such needs will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Each child or teen will meet with a psychiatrist at our treatment clinic at least once each week in order to ensure the therapeutic effectiveness of any medications that are prescribed, as well as to make any changes that may be necessary.

Individual therapy: Individual therapy sessions at our suicidal ideation treatment center are held for 60 minutes at least once each week and are designed to be a time for children to meet one-on-one with their therapists in order to discuss any concerns they have, to track treatment goals, and to work on personal skills-building. Additional sessions can always be added depending on a child’s needs or when specifically requested.

Group therapy: Children and teens in our clinic’s residential treatment program participate in 60 minute group therapy sessions five times each week. The majority of the groups are based on a cognitive behavioral therapeutic approach and include discussions on topics such as goal-setting, social skills, peer pressure, aggression, following rules, and bullying. All group topics are tailored to address specific issues that pertain to the children or teens participating in each particular group, so the topics will vary.

Family therapy: At Millcreek of Pontotoc, located in North Mississippi, we believe that family involvement is paramount in eliciting successful treatment outcomes. Patients and their families participate in 60 minute family therapy sessions at least twice each month. However, additional family sessions can be added at any time depending on a patient’s needs or when requested.

Clinical staffings: Each child or teen in our residential treatment clinic is provided with two staffings during their first month at Millcreek, and in one staffing per month for each subsequent month that they are in our care. These staffings provide patients and their parents or guardians with specified times to meet with their suicidal ideation treatment team in order to discuss the child’s progress in all areas of treatment, including therapeutically and academically.

Experiential therapy: In order to provide a well-rounded approach to suicidal ideation treatment, children and teens are offered additional therapeutic options as part of their treatment plans. These options include art therapy, play therapy, and daily recreational therapy.

Education: While participating in our suicidal ideation treatment clinic in North Mississippi, all patients will attend our fully accredited, onsite therapeutic day school. Classes are held from 8:00am-11:00am every day, at which time children and teens break for an hour of group therapy and then have lunch. After lunch, they will return to class from 12:30pm-2:00pm. All classes at our treatment center are taught by teachers who are certified to teach children with special needs, and classes are held in small classrooms with low student-to-teacher ratios in order to ensure that all academic needs are fully addressed.

Continuing care and levels of treatment for suicidal ideation

At Millcreek of Pontotoc, a behavioral disorders treatment center in North Mississippi, discharge planning starts at the time of admission into our clinic. Throughout the course of suicidal ideation treatment, each patient’s progress is closely monitored in order to make sure that all treatment goals are successfully reached and that appropriate recommendations for aftercare can be made. All referrals for aftercare services are made based solely on each patient’s present level of functioning at the time of discharge, as well as based on their skills set and the challenges that they may still be facing. Our treatment center’s staff will work with each patient and their family in order to set up any aftercare appointments or services that will help the patient remain successful. Additionally, when it is appropriate, our staff can work with teens in getting them set up with part-time jobs following their discharge.

For those families who are still in need of intensive services, but whose children no longer require a residential treatment clinic, we often refer them to MYPAC in order to facilitate wraparound services. MYPAC stands for Mississippi Youth Program Around the Clock and is an intensive wraparound service that provides patients and their families with home therapy services.

Some patients will benefit from transitioning from our residential suicidal ideation treatment center to our therapeutic day school treatment program as part of their step-down process as they re-integrate back into their home lives. Patients taking part in this suicidal ideation treatment option will receive weekly group and individual therapy sessions, along with monthly family therapy sessions and multidisciplinary treatment team meetings with their psychiatrist.

Whatever your child’s or teen’s ongoing needs may be, you should feel assured that the staff here at our treatment center at Millcreek of Pontotoc will do everything in our power to help them continue on their path to success.