Connie MacDonald works for the State Department at the U.S. consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It’s a dream job, and she loved living abroad with her two sons.
But earlier this year, MacDonald said, her 8-year-old son started to become aggressive. At first the family thought it was ADHD. Her son was indeed eventually diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder — as well as disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, which makes it difficult for her son to control his emotions, particularly anger.
“He was hurting me. He was threatening to kill his brother. One of the last straws was they had four people at school holding him down for almost an hour trying to calm him down,” she said.
The American International School of Jeddah told her that her son couldn’t come back. His behavior was so severe that MacDonald started to look for residential treatment back in the U.S.
She found Intermountain Residential in Montana. Children in the Intermountain program learn to build healthy relationships through intense behavioral therapy over the course of up to 18 months.
Intermountain Residential is one of the only facilities in the U.S. that serves young children with emotional dysregulation, like her son.
A concerning trend has emerged as it becomes increasingly difficult to find long-term residential behavioral health treatment options for children. This article highlights the growing challenges faced by families seeking extended care solutions for children dealing with behavioral health issues. The scarcity of long-term residential facilities places additional strain on parents and caregivers seeking comprehensive and sustained support for their children’s mental health.
The article explores the reasons behind the diminishing availability of long-term residential behavioral health treatment, shedding light on the implications for families in need. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, there is a call to action for increased awareness and advocacy to address this critical gap in accessible mental health services for children.
If you or someone you know is in need of support for addiction or mental health challenges, RehabNear.Me is here to help. Call us at 855-339-1112, and our compassionate team will provide guidance and connect you with appropriate addiction treatment resources and mental health support tailored to your unique needs. Taking the step towards seeking help can lead to a brighter and healthier future. Reach out today.
It’s Getting Harder to Find Long-term Residential Behavioral Health Treatment for Kids https://t.co/3gZDZuJ7Ol #rehabnearme
— RehabNearMe (@RehabNear_Me) November 24, 2023
