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Since the pandemic began, mental health care practitioners have noticed an increase in the number of children and young adults suffering from depression, anxiety and a host of other mental illnesses, according to results of a 2022 survey conducted by the American Psychological Association.
Psychiatrist Dr. Wendy Oliver-Pyatt, Psychologist Dr. Amy Boyers and their team of professionals at Galen Hope can attest to this phenomenon as well.
Galen Hope is a Coral Gables-based mental health and eating disorders treatment center whose experienced staff of psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists specialize in addressing a wide range of complex mental health conditions in adults and adolescents. They are well-known for their dignity-enhancing approach to providing medically and psychiatrically thorough care leading to healing, health and inner peace.
“So many young people are suffering, trying to work their way out of the trauma of the pandemic,” says Dr. Boyers. “Social media is an additional stressor, and it’s competitive to get into a good college. There is a huge amount of pressure on them, which can lead to mental health and eating disorders.”
According to Dr. Boyers, recognizing when a person needs help is a primary challenge. Taking action is the next step.
“Pediatricians are busy and see their patients infrequently. If the parents are not sounding the alarm bells during their child’s appointment with the primary care provider, a mental health concern may not be addressed,” explains Dr. Boyers. “Parents are the child’s primary advocates, but they might feel intimidated or worry about the stigma of a mental health concern. Even if they can’t put their finger on exactly what’s wrong, a parent can tell when something is off with their child.”
Another barrier to raising the alarm and arranging timely care can be a parent’s fear that their child will lose momentum by missing school or work, or a sport they love. Galen Hope’s team counters this argument with a question: if someone doesn’t have their mental health and make good decisions on a daily basis, what do those other things really matter?
Then there is the young person who suffers in silence and masks their pain because they don’t want to burden their family. They seem high-functioning, often doing very well in school, but upon a closer look show symptoms of depression and anxiety, or have an eating disorder.
“In these cases, it’s natural to think everything is ok, which simply isn’t true,” says Dr. Boyers. “We see this all the time.”
Galen Hope recognizes that the earlier a client begins receiving care, the less chance of a relapse. They work extensively with each client’s family and coach family members about their loved one’s mental health challenges and how best to support them in their recovery. Another important focus is reintegrating each client back into the world beyond treatment, whether it’s returning to school or a job, or learning specific skills such as personal budgeting, developing a self-care routine or how to handle difficult situations at work or in a relationship.
“Assertive community treatment assures that a client is recovering not just in the confines of our treatment space, but also in the real world,’” says Dr. Oliver-Pyatt. “We face the challenges our clients face, together, so that prior to discharge, a new lifestyle or routine is established. This may require the person to let go of prior patterns, whether that means switching schools, a new career path, letting go of unhealthy relationships or a new philosophy around self-care,” she explains.
In addition to providing psychiatric care, medication management and individual and group therapy for clients with a range of mental health diagnoses, Galen Hope has a particular expertise in treating adults and adolescents with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, orthorexia and exercise addiction.
Galen Hope offers a Partial Hospitalization Program whereby clients can spend either eight or 12 hours a day in treatment, up to seven days per week, and yet go home at night to be with their families. The treatment center also offers an Intensive Outpatient Program consisting of several hours of treatment per day, up to five days per week. Galen Hope also includes supported housing, allowing those coming from near and far to receive similar structure and support as found in residential programs.
“If you know a young person who seems to be struggling, help them get connected to the appropriate resources, whether a school counselor, a pediatrician or a mental health professional,” says Dr. Boyers.
For more information about Galen Hope, please call 866-304-2949 or visit www.galenhope.com.
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