The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year while 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year (NAMI, 2022).
SSTAR opened the Mental Health Intensive Outpatient Program (MH IOP) in July of 2023. The MH IOP provides services to adults ages 18 and over with a mental health diagnosis that is impacting daily functioning. The program also supports clients with co-occurring substance use disorders. Clients can participate in this voluntary program to learn new skills to stabilize mental health symptoms and reduce risk of relapse in order to prevent inpatient hospitalization, or as a step-down after completion of inpatient level of care or partial hospitalization program (PHP).
Clients will participate in primarily group-based treatment, including treatment methods of CBT, DBT, trauma-informed Seeking Safety, Recovery Groups, Art Therapy and Mindfulness Interventions. Groups will be focused on skill-building to increase emotion regulation, support crisis management, increase self-care, support clients in meeting their own recovery goals, improve interpersonal effectiveness within relationships, and overall utilize skills learned to work towards building a life worth living.
Clients with support of program staff will create an individualized treatment plan and after-care plan. Case management will be provided as needed to connect clients with outpatient services in order to maintain progress and continue working towards treatment goals. Referrals may include an individual therapy provider, psychiatric nurse practitioner for medication management, primary care physician (PCP), Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Programs, recovery support services including Recovery Coach and Recovery Support Navigator, ARISE Family Intervention with family support groups and/or family meetings, Certified Peer Specialists, and various community resources as applicable.
Program is held 9:00AM-1:00PM Monday-Friday and consists of 3 groups and two short breaks each day. Clients are expected to attend program for a minimum of three to five days per week. Length of treatment will be discussed with client and program staff based on treatment goals.
Please complete the referral form below. Program staff will contact client referred within 48 hours to answer any questions about the program and schedule an appointment to complete a comprehensive intake assessment to assess if MH IOP is the appropriate level of care for the client. Clients can also access a comprehensive intake assessment by walking-in to SSTAR without an appointment and asking for assessment. Assessments will be provided at 386 Stanley Street location in Fall River, Monday-Friday between 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, at the Outpatient Services entrance of building #3.
If transportation support is needed, please request PT1/GATRA through your PCP if your insurance provider covers this service. SSTAR is also accessible by bus transportation, with a bus-stop located across the street.
Please reach out to the MH IOP Program Coordinator, Theresa Kosch with any questions at [email protected] or 508-329-0404. This is a direct line, so feel free to leave a confidential message. Thank you!
