What mental health treatments/programs are available for my loved one with serious mental illness?

Note: NAMI volunteers are not medical or mental health professionals, and we cannot offer medical or mental health advice. The material outlined below is informational, and we hope that it helps provide guidance toward getting support.

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for serious mental illness (SMI). The best treatment for your loved one may include individual therapy, group therapy, medication, peer support, or some combination of these things.

If you’d like to explore treatments options with your loved one, a good place to start is to help them seek an evaluation from a psychiatrist. They may also wish to schedule an intake appointment at their local Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC).

Behavioral health agencies tend to offer the most comprehensive programs and resources for people living with serious mental illness. They may be able to connect your loved one with social, vocational, housing, education, and support programs in addition to therapy and psychiatric services. You can find your local CBHC by dialing 2-1-1 or by searching online for “community mental health [city] [state].”

Mental health approaches aimed at addressing symptoms that come with serious mental illness are included below. You can keep these in mind as you explore treatment options with your loved one and their mental health provider/team.

Specialized Services

Serious mental illness can come with a lot of challenges. On top of symptoms like low mood, lack of motivation, seeing and hearing things, or having trouble communicating, living with a serious mental health condition can make it difficult to keep track of appointments, take medications as prescribed, practice skills learned in therapy, or maintain safe and stable housing.

Some mental health services, like Assertive Community Treatment and Coordinated Specialty Care, aim to address these needs.

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

Assertive community treatment (ACT) is a team-based treatment model. It is most helpful for people who need a high level of support, like those who have recently gotten out of the hospital.

ACT is based around the idea that people receive better care when their mental health care providers work together. ACT team members help people with SMI address many things that may affect their recovery: medication, therapy, social support, employment, and daily living skills. They often meet people in their home or community rather than in an office setting.

You can find ACT services through your loved one’s local community behavioral health center (CBHC).

Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC)

Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) is a treatment program designed for people between the ages of 16-30 who have been experiencing symptoms of psychosis for two years or less.  Research shows that CSC helps reduce symptoms and improve a person’s quality of life.

CSC programs involve a team of behavioral specialists that work with the client and their caregivers to create a treatment plan that involves:

Coordination with primary care physician
Recovery-oriented psychotherapy
Medication management
Individual and family education and support
Case management
Work and/or education support

To find a CSC program in your area, you may wish to consult The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Early Serious Mental Illness Treatment Locator.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, also known as “talk therapy,” is when a person speaks with a trained therapist in a safe and confidential environment to explore and understand their feelings and behaviors. Therapists help people learn skills and coping strategies to manage mental health symptoms and make choices that best support their recovery.

Inpatient and residential treatments often include a combination of individual psychotherapy and group therapy. Some people participate in psychotherapy as part of the specialized services offered in ACT and CSC. Others may receive psychotherapy services on an outpatient basis; people who live with a serious mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are likely to have more frequent therapy sessions and also see a psychiatrist for mental health medications.

Some psychotherapy approaches are specific serious mental illness. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp) and Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) are two examples.

CBT for Psychosis (CBT-P)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp) is an evidence-based talk therapy focused on how someone's thoughts, behaviors, and emotions are connected. CBTp was created to help people with psychosis improve their functioning and reduce the distress that comes with psychotic symptoms.

To learn more about CBTp and explore CBTp treatment options in your area, review NAMI HelpLine’s Knowledge Article What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp)?

Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT)

Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy is based on the idea that environmental factors trigger mood episodes for people with bipolar disorder. IPSRT helps people learn to regulate their mood using daily biological and social routines (e.g. sleep schedule, meal schedule, medication schedule). It also helps people learn skills to navigate relationship conflict and the impact that conflict can have on their mood.

Other Therapeutic Approaches

Brain-stimulation Therapies

When treatments like medication and therapy don't seem to be helping, a psychiatrist might suggest therapies that involve stimulating the brain directly to help relieve symptoms.

Review NAMI’s ECT, TMS and Other Brain Stimulation Therapies webpage to learn more about these treatment options.

Psychosocial Services

Psychosocial services aim to help people address concerns that can come with mental illness: attention and thinking difficulties, communication challenges, lack of positive social connection, trouble staying on task, and challenges keeping a safe house and stable job.

Here are a few examples:

Cognitive Remediation helps people address functional skills like memory and attention
Social Skills Training helps people develop and improve social skills to better connect with others
Supported Employment helps people develop skills to find and maintain employment
Supported Housing includes oversight and coordination services for those who need extra support caring for themselves and managing their mental health condition
Peer Support involves connecting with someone that is in recovery themselves and can provide support and encouragement.

Consider exploring psychosocial service options with your loved one and their treatment team. Many of these services may be included in structured treatment programs like ACT or through other programs offered by your loved one’s local community behavioral health center (CBHC).

Mental Health Medications

For many people with serious mental illness, medications are an important part of the treatment plan. To learn more about medications like antipsychotics and mood stabilizers that are commonly prescribed for serious mental illness, review NAMI’s Types of Medication webpage.

Explore the NAMI HelpLine Knowledge Article: What are long-acting injectable antipsychotics? Will they help my loved one participate in their treatment? if you think your loved one may benefit from taking a Long-Acting Injectable (LAI) medications rather than a daily pill.

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