Question

Looking for opinions or facts...

Say a person is having a hard time with life, and is just in a bad place and in need of support, due to inner turmoil and external uncontrollable factors. Not mentally ill, just having a hard time, and perhaps in need of intense therapy. Being that counseling or therapy is usually once or maybe twice a week for an hour each time, that isn't always enough. Could a person check into a mental health facility for a few days just to take a break and talk with professionals? Or are these places for people who really have mental illnesses? Or, does anything exist that is like IOP, but not for sustance abuse?
Atlas,

If the person is suicidal, they will admit them to the psych ward for a few days for an evaluation and follow up care. If they are looking for outpatient care, they can call the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene in their State and get help. It will all depend on if they have health insurance, Medicaid, or if they have neither at this time. They usually refer them to a CSA (Core Service Agency) for the county in which they reside.
Atlas:

Recently, a friend of mine was in this type of situation. She was not suicidal, and she wasn't on drugs, but she needed like an intense emotional program...she was definitely at a crossroads...not totally in crisis, but heading there.

She got a therapist who was willing to work with her for four days a week, for three weeks...one hour at a time. He devised a plan for her, and each of their meetings and even proposed the whole thing to her insurance company, which paid for it.
(It was much less expensive than the alternative). Of course, this did not develop overnight. She had to meet with him, discuss what she needed or wanted, and he had to develop a plan, and get it to the insurance company. All told, I think she saw him twice in 3 weeks, and then the process started.

She had researched facilities that would help her, and they were mostly out of Duke hospital in the North Carolina area. She could have done inpatient there...but this worked, and she got to stay home, and continue working, and also working this plan.

It was a tremendous breakthrough for her. I think you can find what you need, but you may have to be a little creative! Sometimes, just asking, or stating what you want can open doors. She was fortunate!

Hope this helps.

Hope you feel better soon too!!!!

Sarah