Mental health options for 13 year old

[Anonymous]

My 13 year old DD has been hospitalized twice for mental issues. She’s hurting herself (or threatening to commit suicide), steals money, lies constantly, skips classes occasionally, sleeps most of the day, and absolutely refuses to engage with the family. She’s on medication, attends therapy twice a week, and sees a psychiatrist. She still does well academically and athletically. I don’t know what more to do to help her. My home is under lockdown-she has no access to electronics, medication, my purse-she cannot be trusted (this is my opinion and also the therapists opinion). She’s not “bad enough” to qualify for long term care, yet she is “bad enough” to get admitted for acute care. I don’t know what the next step should be-she’s already done the outpatient daily therapy after her last hospital stay. It didn’t seem to help. The weekly Therapy and meds don’t seem to be helping either. Is there a boarding school I should consider? Any mental health programs that would be beneficial? I am Out of ideas and incredibly worried.

[Anonymous]

I sent my 13YO to wilderness and then to a residential school when she was 13. She came home 1 1/2 years later a different person. She’s almost 17 now and still stable. I know peoples opinions of wilderness but in my opinion, they don’t have personal experience with families in such dire straits or wilderness itself. I used an educational consultant to look for a residential school and that is where I learned about wilderness. My DD had been hospitalized 3 times over two months for me to decide she couldn’t come home.

[Anonymous]

Can I ask about the residential school? Which one did you use? And how did you find an educational consultant to help you navigate this? I assume most consultants help more with IEPs. I am so over my head.

[Anonymous]

Csn she articulate why she does the things she does?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sent my 13YO to wilderness and then to a residential school when she was 13. She came home 1 1/2 years later a different person. She’s almost 17 now and still stable. I know peoples opinions of wilderness but in my opinion, they don’t have personal experience with families in such dire straits or wilderness itself. I used an educational consultant to look for a residential school and that is where I learned about wilderness. My DD had been hospitalized 3 times over two months for me to decide she couldn’t come home.

Which wilderness program?

[Anonymous]

What's the root? Was she abused? She sounds like a kid crying out for help.

[Anonymous]

Is there a diagnosis? What meds? What kind of therapy? These things matter.

As previous PP suggested, I would hope that therapist is asking about trauma? Sexual abuse, sexual harassment and bullying are very prevalent in MS and HS.

What does she say about school? The fact that she's doing well in school despite skipping and sleeping all day suggests she's very bright. Does she have a 504 plan?

[Anonymous]

I sent my son to an outdoor program. Not wilderness but also not a typical RTC. It was helpful. He went twice - once for four months and the second time for two months. But it took until he was in his early 20s for him to stabilize.

Your options will depend on how you intend to pay. If you need to use insurance, you’re going to be limited to what your coverage provides.

There are some PHP/IOP programs that are longer programs and sound more intensive than what you’ve tried.

[Anonymous]

https://lifecompasspartners.com/non-traditional-schools-programs--centers.html


Here is a list of programs recommended by a DC-area EC.

Two reputable wilderness programs are Outback and Blue Ridge.

[Anonymous]

I do not recommend wilderness programs! They often do not have qualified mental health staff and are not set up to care for children with mental health issues (or anything else, for that matter). If your child needs long-term support outside of the home, then an RCT may be appropriate, but NOT wilderness.

[Anonymous]

Has she done partial hospitalization program (PHP) or intensive outpatient program (IOP)? There are multiple options in the area.

[Anonymous]

There are summer programs as well, like summer camp but treatment focused. Our family therapist worked at one in the northeast and speaks highly of them. They’re $$$ but we considered it because our child went through a really thought time around that age. It’s been several years and I can’t believe how much things have turned around. 11-13 was awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are summer programs as well, like summer camp but treatment focused. Our family therapist worked at one in the northeast and speaks highly of them. They’re $$$ but we considered it because our child went through a really thought time around that age. It’s been several years and I can’t believe how much things have turned around. 11-13 was awful.

Reviving an old thread, but what worked for your child?

[Anonymous]

I would think the hospital would have referred you to a 30-90 day partial hospitalization program. They go 8-4pm and come home at night and weekends.