Suicidal Ideation Treatment Center in Wichita Falls

Learn more about suicidal ideation treatment at Red River Hospital in Wichita Falls, TX

Suicidal ideation refers to the persistent thoughts, notions, or fantasies that an individual suffering from this disorder has about taking his or her own life. Some people may experience these thoughts as fleeting considerations, while others may develop detailed plans as to how they would attempt the act. Most of the time, suicidal ideations do not involve the final act of killing oneself. However, there are some instances where a person is plagued by such overwhelming thoughts of suicide that he or she does end up making an attempt. As a result, suicidal ideation must always be taken very seriously as the line between thoughts and actions can be stopped over at any time, and without warning.

Red River Hospital is a 96-bed psychiatric and addiction treatment center located in Wichita Falls, Texas. For over four decades, we have remained steadfast in our diligence to help improve the lives of those who entrust us with their care. Through individualized treatment plans, the highly trained and qualified staff at Red River Hospital assist those who are in need of services for behavioral health concerns, substance abuse issues, and co-occurring disorders. By separating our hospital into four distinct units, we are able to successfully meet the needs of all age groups, including children, adolescents, adults, and senior adults. We are also proud to offer a specialized military heroes unit for our United States Service Members. At Red River, we recognize how demoralizing suicidal ideation can be and we acknowledge the sensitivity surrounding the various reasons why people begin experiencing these types of thoughts. We want to show you that there is a way to stop having these upsetting thoughts and guide you as you develop the tools you need to heal.

Helping a loved one get treatment for suicidal ideation

When someone is experiencing suicidal ideation, they are not likely to ask for help. They may be embarrassed by their thoughts or may not want to cause their loved ones to worry. However, these people more than likely also do not truly want to die but simply want the inner pain and emotional turmoil that they experience to stop. The first step in preventing your loved one from crossing the line between thought and action is to recognize the warning signs. Some signs that may indicate that a person is thinking about suicide may include:

• Isolating oneself from family and friends
• Participating in highly risky behaviors
• Giving away personal belongings
• Making seemingly fleeting comments such as, “There’s just no point to living” or “It’s not worth it anymore”
• Seeking out lethal means
• Verbalizing a lack of hope about the future
• Partaking in self-harming behaviors
• Sudden sense of calm or detachment

If you have noticed any of these signs in your loved one, then it is imperative that you intervene. It is likely that your loved one will deny having such thoughts, but be persistent in explaining why he or she would benefit from treatment. Assure him or her that you are there to listen and offer support. Seek out treatment options for your loved one and accompany him or her to any appointments that are made.

Why consider treatment for suicidal ideation at Red River Hospital in Wichita Falls, TX

When a person is afflicted with the presence of suicidal ideation, it can rapidly begin to negatively impact his or her daily life. These thoughts can be so all-consuming that people may find it difficult to concentrate or fulfill academic or occupational obligations because they are too focused on these devastating ideations. Additionally, the chronic presence of these thoughts can drastically damage a person’s self-esteem, causing a perpetual cycle of self-hatred and increased suicidal ideation. If people do not receive treatment, and their demoralizing thoughts go unaddressed, what was once simply an idea can escalate into an actual attempt, which can result in death.

Inpatient treatment centers can be beneficial in helping individuals overcome their suicidal ideation while also confronting the core reasons for why the preoccupation with suicide exists. These clinics can help people learn coping skills that they can rely on when they feel overwhelmed, taking the place of the suicidal ideation. Additionally, by entering into this type of clinic, individuals are able to actually remove themselves from the stresses of their everyday lives; stresses that may be triggering their thoughts of suicide. In this environment, they can safely and effectively work towards becoming well again.

Red River Hospital philosophy and benefits

When you or a loved one is in crisis, or when life simply seems to have spiraled out of control, the staff at Red River Hospital is here to help. We strive to understand the point of view of others and actively express encouragement as individuals work towards achieving their goals. At Red River, we take responsibility for treating each and every person who comes through our doors with the respect and dignity that he or she deserves. By providing structured scheduling and implementing individualized treatment plans for each patient, we aim to show everyone how they can succeed. We surround patients with every facet of information that they need to get better, and we will do everything in our power to make sure that those who come to us for care leave our center with the confidence they need to continue on their path to a brighter future.

Types of suicidal ideation treatment offered at Red River Hospital in Wichita Falls, TX

Red River Hospital provides assessments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, free of charge. These assessments are conducted by a licensed professional and then reviewed by another licensed team member or a supervisor. If it is determined that we will be able to fully meet the patient’s needs, one of our physicians will be contacted and the admissions process will begin. Our dedicated psychiatric staff and multidisciplinary treatment team provide medical management and various therapies designed to encompass all of the needs of all of our patients. We utilize a variety of therapeutic techniques as part of our inpatient care, including the following:

Detoxification: When patients come to Red River and are struggling with chemical dependency concerns, we provide a 5-7 day stay in our detox unit. Here, every individual receives 24-hour monitoring by a team of nurses as his or her body becomes cleansed of any toxic substances that are present. For those who are struggling with suicidal ideation, but are also dependent upon substances, detox marks the beginning of the therapeutic process. To learn more about this process, please see our detoxification page.

Medication Management: Medications like antidepressants or antianxiety agents are likely to be used as part of the treatment process for helping people with suicidal ideation. All patients are seen daily by a psychiatrist in order to ensure that the medications that have been prescribed are working properly and to make any changes that may be necessary.

Group therapy: Red River’s inpatient programs are group-focused, with a variety of groups being held daily. Some of the topics that are covered in these groups include effective communication skills, appropriate assertive behavior skills, anger management, conflict resolution, and medication management. In our geriatric unit, additional groups and activities are held in order to assist in reality orientation.

Family therapy: At Red River, we see each disorder as a family disorder because these illnesses not only impact the life of the individual who has the disorder but the lives of each patient’s family members as well. We believe that if the family is not involved, then the changes that are made during the treatment process will not be carried over into the home environment. As a result, we encourage family sessions to occur on a regular basis in all units and can be done via telephone if necessary. On our child and adolescent unit, at least one family session is required prior to the patient’s discharge.

Individual therapy: Individual sessions occur on an as-needed basis for all units except our military unit, where patients have a minimum of one individual therapy session each week.

Recreational therapy occurs at least once per day and includes activities such as physical therapy and yoga.

Daily school is provided for all of our child and adolescent patients. There is an onsite school room and lessons are led by our public school district’s teachers.

Continuing care and levels of treatment for suicidal ideation

At Red River Hospital, we begin planning for discharge the moment patients enter the hospital. This plan is consistently reviewed and updated throughout the individual’s stay so that when the time for discharge arrives the patient is already set up for the next step in his or her recovery process. We believe that aftercare is a major part of treatment, so we ensure that the unique needs of each individual will be addressed, whether that be a step down into our partial hospitalization program (PHP) or our intensive outpatient program (IOP), or being provided with referrals for traditional outpatient services. For patients who require a structured plan in order to return to life’s daily routines, Red River also provides onsite therapy through our Pathways program, which includes coping skills training and supervised medication management. Whatever your needs may be, our caring and compassionate staff will make sure that you are comfortable and confident as you embark on your next stage of recovery.