Anxiety and depression are increasing in teens and young adults in Maryland, as is occurring in most other states. Meanwhile, 14.2% of young adults (aged 18-25) in Maryland have a substance use disorder (per a report in 2020 of the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). The limiting of “in-person” social interactions among youth consequent to the Covid-19 pandemic has increased the prevalence of anxiety, depression, alcohol/drug dependency, and eating disorders in youth nationwide – and Maryland has been no exception. Moreover, around 3.3% of all adults in Maryland live with a major mental health illness (such as bipolar disorder). For individuals developing mental health problems, commencing treatment can prevent psychological and emotional well-being from worsening.
The following are the five best mental health treatment centers for teens and young adults in Maryland:
1. The Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital (aka Sheppard Pratt) (Towson, MD)
As the largest private, nonprofit provider of mental health services in Maryland, Sheppard Pratt’s Inpatient Programs and Specialty Services section includes the provision of inpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment for teenagers and young adults. For patients that do require a higher level of care than can be provided in an outpatient setting – but do not require the intense level of intervention of an inpatient hospital unit – alternative residential options are available for both adolescents and adults. The Sheppard Pratt School and Residential Treatment Center (a 65-bed residential mental health center in Towson serving youth aged 12-18) offers a comprehensive special education curricula and residential care for teens with severe emotional and behavioral disabilities. In addition, there are other specialized residential programs aimed at children and adolescents (such as one specifically-focused on youth diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder [ASD]).
Payment Options: Diverse types of public and private health insurance are accepted (as well as self-pay).
2. Newport Academy (Rockville, Maryland)
Newport Academy’s Rockville Outpatient Program (in the city of Rockville, MD) is a part of Newport Academy – a national mental health treatment provider specializing in providing treatment to teens and young adults. Whereas residential services are offered by it in various other states, Newport Academy in Maryland solely operates an outpatient treatment center (which is focused on treating psychological, behavioral, and/or substance abuse in teenagers). Outpatient programs of Newport Academy (including the Rockville outpatient center) include utilization of a robust clinical model, with each client receiving an in-depth assessment that informs the tailored treatment plan.
Besides providing both individual and group therapy to the adolescent clients, this Rockville outpatient center features a game space, recreation room, music therapy suite, and comfortably-furnished, private rooms for therapy sessions. Through a comprehensive, evidence-based plan tailored for each client – and incorporating a robust family therapy counseling component – the Rockville Outpatient Program aids teenagers and their families to re-establish a solid foundation for thriving.
This Newport Academy outpatient center in Rockville is conveniently located two blocks from the Twinbrook Metro stop (which has adjacent parking), and within easy access of Washington, DC and nearby Bethesda, MD.
Payment Options: Diverse types of health insurance are accepted (as well as self-pay).
3) Children’s Mental Health Center at the Johns Hopkins Hospital (CMHC) (Baltimore, MD)
Treatment of children and adolescents up to the age of 18 who live in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area is provided by this outpatient mental health center affiliated with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Johns Hopkins Medicine). Individual and/or family-oriented treatment – as well as child/adolescent and parent groups – are offered. Their licensed clinical counselors and psychiatrists are highly trained to evaluate and treat a wide variety of psychiatric and behavioral difficulties, including (but not limited to) the following: ADHD, adjustment disorder, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, traumatic events, disruptive behaviors, and school-related concerns. Some of the evidence-based therapies that may be utilized in the treatment of teens are:
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Training (Individual and family therapy focusing on adolescents who engage in self-defeating behaviors).
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT).
- Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS).
Payment Options: Diverse types of public and private health insurance are accepted (as well as self-pay).
4) MSA: The Child and Adolescent Center (Columbia, MD)
The Child and Adolescent Center is a publicly-funded mental health center (contracted by the state of Maryland to MSA), and operating solely as an outpatient community mental health center for youth and young adults (aged 3-21). Offerings include the Psychiatric Intensive Outpatient Program (PIOP) for adolescents, as well as the only children’s PIOP in Maryland. In addition, this mental health center provides traditional outpatient mental health care (inclusive of both psychiatric evaluations and medication management by board certified child/adolescent psychiatrists, as well as individual, family and group therapy provided by licensed therapists.
Some of the numerous mental health issues addressed in their adolescent clients are:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD);
- Depression;
- Body dysmorphic disorder and body image concerns (including eating disorders);
- Trauma;
- Family conflicts and relationships (including divorce and issues that affect blended families);
- Sexual orientation and gender identity
Payment Options: Diverse types of health insurance, State of Maryland Medical Assistance (SMA), and self-pay are accepted.
5. Sandstone Care – Maryland Drug and Alcohol Rehab (Rockville and Crownsville, MD)
Sandstone Care operates in numerous states, and its focus is treatment aimed at teens, young adults, and their families for substance use, addiction, and mental health conditions. While an outpatient drug and rehab center for adolescents and young adults is located in Rockville (and an outpatient center specifically focused on anxiety, depression, and trauma in young adults in Crownsville), there is also a teen residential rehab center in Crownsville. In addition, there are other types of programs to enhance alcohol and drug abuse recovery offered in both Rockville, MD and Crownsville, MD to adolescents and/or young adults. At the teen residential campus, an intimate clinical environment (with a maximum census of 22 adolescents) is provided in a peaceful setting, and the teens typically stay 45-60 days.
Payment Options: Diverse types of health insurance are accepted (as well as self-pay).
Depression and other Mental Health Conditions in Youth – Effect on Physical Health
Adolescents and young adults suffering from depression are far more likely to become dependent on alcohol and/or drugs to cope with their depressive symptoms. Likewise, they are more likely to not take care of themselves physically (such as by foregoing daily self-care activities), as well as to take greater risks with their safety (such as impulsive sexual behaviors that result in harm to self or others). Therefore, depression in adolescents and young adults can result in injuries and chronic health conditions that persist throughout adulthood. For this reason, obtaining mental health and/or substance abuse treatment if you are a teenager or young adult – or the parent of one – is important.
