Best Practices for Treating Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders | Part IV: Treatment Settings

This literature review is part four of a five part series that synthesizes the most current findings from peer-reviewed health journals and other literature relevant to treating mental health and substance use disorders. This section summarizes best practices for treating mental health and substance use disorders within treatment settings, followed by a summary of considerations specific to the setting and/or populations served within the setting. For more information or to read the entire literature review, please click here.

Best Practices for Treating Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in Treatment Settings

Both mental health and substance use disorders are diseases that have biological, psychological, social, and spiritual components (Peters, Taylor, Lyketsos, & Chisolm, 2012). Treatments for mental health and substance use disorders encompass a spectrum of programs, therapies, and other strategies, each at varying intensities. A common theme of treatment for these disorders is that they should be delivered with empathy, without confrontation (MHA, 2017), and individuals should be treated with dignity and respect for their personhood (Marcovitz, 2019).

Treatment strategies exist along a spectrum based on need that includes evidence-based behavioral health interventions and therapies (for example residential and outpatient treatment programs), medication, psychosocial and peer support, and other strategies. Treatment should occur early, be tailored as much as possible to the unique needs of individuals, and be delivered by highly trained health professionals and support personnel (SAMHSA, 2019a).

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