Five years ago, when Jim began experiencing acute paranoia, his wife urged him to check into a Melbourne inpatient psychiatric clinic.  Jim’s mental state, and prior experience of residential psychiatric care, made it impossible for him to accept help.  Fear of “being held in a facility” is a leading barrier to patients seeking mental health treatment in complex or acute cases.  For Jim’s wife, it meant weeks of managing escalating symptoms until she finally “just called an ambulance” and committed Jim to private residential care, against his will.  

When Jim again showed symptoms of a paranoid episode, he was adamant that he would not commit to residential care.  His doctor suggested an alternative to residential care, “hospital in the home” which has been trialed for several years across Australia with remarkable success.  Similar to some aged care and post-surgical rehabilitation services, at home intensive mental health care has, as reported by one Melbourne provider, reduced hospital readmissions by 90%.

“The very idea of residential mental health care creates a lot of barriers for clients.  From the logistical issues, to perceived stigma, to fear of the loss of autonomy and control,  inpatient mental health care, by its very nature, can prevent people in crisis seeking help.” said Parwana Nawabi, Psychologist Melbourne.

Enter Mental Health Hospital in the Home.  Health Insurers off their mental health clients the ability to undergo multidisciplinary mental health treatments at home, avoiding a hospital admission – and slashing their own expenses.  Depending on the psychiatric care outlined in the patient’s policy, they may receive 30 sessions with psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, social workers and nurses.  The process covers psychological assessments, management and support with no hospital admission.

Image Source: Private Health Partnerships

Eligible patients have access to group therapy, home visits, clinic access and access to their “regular doctors” much as they would in a residential situation.  The big difference is, the patient can sleep in their own bed, keep to their own routine, and maintain relationships with their support people throughout.  Private mental health clinics with suitable human resources and infrastructure provide an at-home service, without hospital admission.

“While sleeping in your own bed gives immense comfort to someone in crisis, it’s more about feeling in control of their circumstances, which is very important in the treatment process” said Ms Nawabi. “For patients in a vulnerable mental state, hospitalization can be traumatic, causing an elevation in symptoms.  This outpatient approach works best when the program providers meet exacting standards and can provide patients with the level of care needed”.

The key is ensuring that the patient receives the benefits of residential care.  This means that only select providers can work with health insurers to guarantee quality of care.  The private clinic providers must have qualified and highly experienced psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers and support staff on hand to ensure that the patient receives the appropriate level of support.

Private clinic provider Clarity Health Care, Psychology Clinic Fitzroy, in Melbourne’s inner northeast reports a 90% decrease in psychiatric hospital admissions after being among Melbourne’s flagship providers. Clarity Health Care is a private mental health clinic, not a hospital.  It’s a leading provider of multidisciplinary mental health services in Melbourne, providing outpatient mental health services for the benefit of the patient.  

“Removing a patient from their home, especially against their will, can create major delays in recovery.  In most cases, getting them home sooner, or better, preventing a hospital stay altogether, is highly beneficial to the patient’s well-being.” Said Ms Nawabi.