Why is summer a good time for residential mental health treatment?

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For many children, teens, and their parents, summer is a season for vacation, relaxation, and fun outdoor activities away from the challenges of the school year. For this reason, summer is often mistakenly viewed as an inconvenient or unnecessary time for residential mental health treatment.

However, the same reasons people may believe summer is a bad time for treatment may actually make it ideal.

“Summer is a great time to have kids in treatment,” says Peggy Scallon, MD, medical director of Focus Depression Recovery adolescent residential care at Rogers in Oconomowoc. “It’s an opportunity to take a breather and take stock of the year that has passed.”

With the pressures that often come with school – from academic stresses to challenging peer relationships – no longer at the forefront, summer is also an important opportunity to prepare for the new school year. Under the compassionate care of Rogers’ treatment team as well as the structured environment of a residential treatment program, teens and children can focus on developing skills that will help them succeed in the fall.

Another important element of Rogers’ residential treatment for children and teens is the recognition of the age group’s needs and importance of having fun while gaining life-changing mental health tools.

“We have a recreational therapy staff, so we always remember that they are kids, and they need to play. That’s one of the most important elements of growing up,” explains Dr. Scallon.

How to get started

If you or someone you love needs mental health or addiction treatment, Rogers can help. Partial hospitalization care (PHP) and intensive outpatient care (IOP) are provided at clinic locations nationwide, while inpatient and residential treatment are offered in Wisconsin.

To begin the admissions process for residential care or another Rogers program, call 800-767-4411.