[GirlWithHope]

Have you ever been in a day program? Did it help? What was your experience like?

[Skeezyks]

I'm not sure what you're referring to when you say "day program". There are a number of different types of services that are sometimes referred to as "day programs". I participated in a partial hospital day program quite a few years ago now following my release from the hospital following one of my suicide attempts. It consisted primarily of "classes" geared toward teaching mental health coping skills plus a daily group therapy session & some one-to-one meetings with the counselor I was assigned to as well as weekly meetings with the program's psychiatrist. All-in-all I guess it was a positive experience. However the primary thing it did for me was to give me some place to go, & something to do, at a time when I was fragile & not in a good frame of mind to be taking care of myself alone. But then I don't know if that's the type of day program you had in mind.

[GirlWithHope]

Thank you for answering.

So far, I have not. Are you looking into a day program? Are you in one already?

[GirlWithHope]

I am not in one, never have been. I am trying to build a life and am wondering if a day program would help or hinder.

[Aviza]

I'm in a kind of day program. Maybe. We meet for two hours twice a week. It's just social time for me games, walks, visiting. They do other things like errands, in home visits, but i go to a center.

[SlumberKitty]

There are PHP's--Partial Hospitalization Programs and IOP--Intensive Outpatient Programs. I was offered an IOP after my hospitalization by my case manager but I didn't pursue it because neither my therapist nor my psychiatrist thought it would be actually helpful for me. My psychiatrist didn't even think the hospitalization was necessary. He didn't put me in. An over-zealous ER doctor did. But the other reason why I didn't pursue it was because it was not close to me geographically. Plus I work. So I would have had to leave work early, drive down a mountain pass, and go to a hospital for three or four hours in the evening and then drive home another hour and a half. It was not conducive for me.

[possum220]

Originally Posted by GirlWithHope

I am not in one, never have been. I am trying to build a life and am wondering if a day program would help or hinder.

I have been in a couple of DBT day programs. I found them helpful and it was good to make connections with other people in real life.

The only way you will find out if they are of help is to find a group that you would like to participate in. There are many types of day programs covering a wide variety of issues. Talk to the people who run it. Attend a group or two and see how it fits in with your life.

[Fuzzybear]

I suggest trying a group or two

[-Astral-]

before lockdown i use to go to drop ins for people with mental health issues everyday , i the lockdown has been good for my i havent self harmed in 8 months, my mental health is still here but am taking it a day at a time .
make sure i do mindfulness meditation everyday and work on my self more

[Prycejosh1987]

I know of people who have. My thing is whatever works for you, works for you. Not everyone has the same experiences.