Suicidal Ideation Treatment Center & Hospital in Chattanooga, TN

Get the facts about treatment for suicidal ideation at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital

Individuals who suffer from suicidal ideation are plagued with thoughts of ending their own lives. This frightening and alarming experience is typically the result of severe physical or emotional pain caused by an untreated mental illness. Often, individuals who experience suicidal ideation do not want to die. Rather, a symptom of suicidal ideation is wanting their suffering to end. Pervasive feelings of hopelessness and despair can lead the person to feel like all hope for recovery is lost, and they begin to see suicide as the only way to eliminate their pain.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, know that you are not alone. And if you are feeling unsafe, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 to be connected with resources in your area.

At Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital, we know that thoughts of ending your own life are the result of incredible suffering. We affirm that your pain is real, and we will always view you as the expert of your experiences. While you may be experiencing a deep sense of hopelessness, know that with professional treatment, you can get the support you need to heal. Our comprehensive, individualized care is designed to address both your current symptoms and the underlying cause of your suicidal thoughts.

Helping a loved one or family member get treatment for suicidal ideation

If someone you care about has expressed thoughts of ending their own life, you are no doubt understandably shaken and concerned. If you believe that your loved one’s safety might become compromised, do not hesitate to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. In addition, please consider the following suggestions as you prepare to assist your loved one in seeking treatment for suicidal ideation:

• Collect some information on the circumstances and mental health concerns that can contribute to the onset of suicidal ideation. This could involve speaking to a medical or mental health professional you trust or consulting some resources online. Do all you can to gain a clearer picture of what your loved one is experiencing.
• Research treatment options in your loved one’s area that are equipped to offer stabilization and treatment services for individuals who struggle with suicidal ideation.
• As you prepare to have a conversation with your loved one about your findings, remember to maintain a supportive and loving tone. You might be met with some initial reluctance to the idea of entering treatment, but continue to encourage your loved one to seek help.

Witnessing a loved one experience thoughts of suicide is a heartbreaking experience. In order to help them to the best of your ability, you must be mindful of your own health and well-being during this challenging time. Do your best to rest, engage in activities that reinvigorate you, and seek your own support as well.

Why you should consider getting treatment for suicidal ideation at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital

Left untreated, the mental health conditions that can cause an individual to experience suicidal thoughts will likely get worse over time. As the frequency of these thoughts increases, they will become more powerful, and the affected individual’s life will continue to be at risk. Self-harming, suicidal behaviors can cause significant damage to the mind and body, and their severity will also likely increase if you don’t seek professional help.

Please know that the fatal consequences of suicidal ideation can be avoided by seeking quality treatment. At Erlanger, our staff understands the intense pain surrounding suicidal thoughts, and we are here to help you regain hope for a recovered life.

Learn about therapies used in the treatment of suicidal ideation at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital

Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital is a state-of-the-art, inpatient mental health and addiction treatment facility. Our high-end treatment center serves multiple cities and states, including Tennessee, North Georgia, and Alabama, offering acute care for patients who need crisis stabilization in a safe and secure setting.

Surrounded by trees, fields, and seasonal flora and fauna, our hospital provides a welcoming respite for patients to begin healing from suicidal ideation. Comfortable care rooms, courtyard areas for relaxation, and a large gymnasium for exercise and recreation offer a well-rounded treatment experience.

At Erlanger, patients receive the most innovative approach to suicidal ideation treatment, with programming that is customized to meet their individual needs.

At Erlanger, our mission is to deliver excellence in the treatment of suicidal ideation, and to improve the quality of life for those who are affected by its symptoms. We strive to deliver compassionate, effective care that empowers our patients on their unique paths to healing from suicidal ideation.

Our suicidal ideation treatment center takes great pride in our ability to provide care in a manner that best meets the needs of our patients. One way that we do this is by offering four distinct programs that allow our patients to receive treatment for suicidal ideation in a setting and amidst a population that is most reflective of their needs and stages of life.

These programs include an adult psychiatry program for patients age 18 and older, a geriatric psychiatry program for patients age 65 and older, and a dual diagnosis program for adults age 18 and older. All programs offer a fully comprehensive approach to care, incorporating a variety of evidence-based therapeutic interventions into each patient’s treatment plan. When a patient receives care for suicidal ideation at our treatment center, they have access to the following:

Medical care: If a patient has a chronic, but stable, medical condition in addition to suicidal ideation, we are able to offer the additional attention they need. Doctors, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses provide medical care for those patients who require these services. Patients have the ability to meet with our medical staff daily.

Medication management: Medication is often a beneficial component in treating suicidal ideation. The use of medication, however, is always determined on a case-by-case basis. For those patients who will benefit from medication, our suicidal ideation treatment center has psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses who provide medication management services. Patients can expect to meet with a psychiatrist daily.

Detoxification: For patients who are struggling with addiction concerns in addition to suicidal ideation symptoms, we offer nonmedical detoxification services on-site. Detox at our treatment center typically lasts between three and seven days. During this time, patients are also able to participate in therapeutic programming so that all of their needs are being met simultaneously. Medication-assisted treatment is also available as part of our detox services, including the use of Suboxone and Subutex. Each patient will work with their treatment team to determine whether to use these medications during detox.

Individual therapy: Licensed social workers and counselors provide confidential one-on-one individual therapy sessions for patients who are struggling with suicidal ideation. These sessions offer patients the opportunity to discuss their concerns, process their experiences in treatment, and celebrate successes as they begin recovering from suicidal ideation. The frequency of individual therapy sessions at our suicidal ideation treatment center is determined throughout the patient’s treatment planning process.

Group therapy: Group therapy is an important part of the healing process at our suicidal ideation treatment center. Our highly qualified staff members, including nurses, social workers, counselors, and activity therapists, lead several groups each day and encourage patients to actively support one another in treatment. There are a variety of groups offered, including the following:

• Recovery groups
• Community groups
• General processing groups
• Psychoeducational groups

Family therapy: When patients are struggling with suicidal ideation, it can be extremely beneficial to include their family members in the treatment process. At our suicidal ideation treatment center, licensed social workers and counselors lead family therapy sessions with patients and their loved ones. Not only does this give family members an opportunity to learn more about suicidal ideation, what their loved one is going through, and ways that they can help, but it also provides them with a safe space to discuss how their loved one’s concerns have impacted them as well.

Continuing care options for suicidal ideation treatment

Treatment does not simply end once your stay at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital is complete. From the time that you are admitted into our suicidal ideation treatment center, your treatment team will begin creating your discharge plan, which will be updated as you progress through treatment. This plan may include referrals to step-down levels of care, information on community resources that are available to you, referrals to support groups, and anything else that your treatment team believes will help you remain successful in healing from suicidal ideation.

If you believe that you or your loved one could benefit from the care provided at our suicidal ideation treatment center, please do not hesitate to contact us today. Our knowledgeable, compassionate staff members are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer any questions you may have, explain more about our programming, and get you started in the admissions process.