It can be difficult to handle a mental health crisis. You may not know what to do. Guild’s residential treatment services provide a place where individuals can stay and work with mental health professionals to stabilize their mental health.
Maureen’s House and Guild South are three houses in South St. Paul where Guild’s Crisis Stabilization and Intensive Residential Treatment Services are housed. This fall, Guild will be opening a new facility in Savage that will expand these services into Scott County.
What do IRTS and Crisis Services Do?
Guild’s residential services feature two programs: Intensive Residential Treatment Services (IRTS) and Crisis Stabilization services. Guild’s IRTS help individuals with a serious mental illness gain stability and learn skills to cope with their symptoms while they stay at the safe, home-like facility for typically between 30 and 90 days. Clients get help from different professionals to develop a crisis prevention plan, enhance independent living skills, and manage their symptoms and treatments.
Crisis Stabilization services help individuals with a mental illness stabilize their mental health while in a crisis. Clients stay at the facility between five and ten days and work with mental health professionals to stabilize symptoms and develop a plan for life beyond their crisis.
“Residential programs like ours give individuals the opportunity to heal, grow, and learn in a safe, home-like environment,” says Tracy, our Program Manager of Residential Services. “While here, they have 24/7 support from experienced, dedicated staff. The programs are flexible and allow for individuals to integrate back into the community or to a more independent living situation.”
Opening this fall, the new Guild Crisis and Recovery Center in Savage will provide IRTS and Crisis Stabilization services to Scott County.
“It will be a place for individuals who are struggling with mental health symptoms to come and find support, resources, recovery, and hope,” says Teri, our Scott County Residential Services Program Manager.
Who do IRTS and Crisis Services Help?
“An individual may be currently hospitalized, for psychiatric support, therefore may access our services post-discharge as a bridge before returning to their place of independent living,” says Teri. Often, IRTS and Crisis Services are the next step in recovery after a mental health emergency.
IRTS is for individuals with a serious and persistent mental illness like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, or another psychiatric illness who need helping learning how to cope with their symptoms. Their stay at residential services helps them learn to manage their mental illness. Individuals can be referred to the IRTS program by their Case Manager or another provider. Individuals can also refer themselves.
Crisis Stabilization is for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Anyone, including the individual who needs support, can make a referral to Maureen’s House. If there’s a bed available, individuals can be admitted anytime – day or night.
What’s it Like to Work at Residential Services?
Staff at Guild South and Maureen’s House work hard and collaborate to meet client needs. Staff provide “day to day services that are tailored to the individual’s needs.” They also partner with other Guild programs to provide additional resources for clients, like housing help and case management.
Teri, who will soon lead Guild’s Scott County facility once they open their doors, is excited for her staff to serve the community. “I’ve worked in a variety of settings, including Intensive Residential Treatment Services (IRTS) before and it has a special place in my heart. I’m most looking forward to providing this level of care and support right here in the community in which I live.”
Staff at our South St. Paul residential services have many years of experience, but, says Tracy, “even more humor – we love to laugh!” Guild South and Maureen’s House are warm, welcoming houses that were built in the 1920’s. “We could say our work spaces here at Guild South are ‘antique’ and with that, our space is limited, but we are creative over here – we’ve turned basements and closets and boiler rooms into workspaces to make it work!” Residential Services staff are all about finding solutions.
Learn more about our IRTS and Crisis Stabilization services.