Mental health and wellness

We are the only inpatient, voluntary, acute care behavioral health program in the Sarasota area dedicated to seniors. It serves people who are 50 years old and older who need acute mental health treatment in a safe, compassionate and tranquil environment.

This 16-room center is in a dedicated wing of the hospital to ensure confidentiality and privacy.

Our treatment programs are customized for each person and include:

• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Educational groups
• Loss management and relapse prevention
• Group activities (such as music, dance, reminiscence and yoga)

Outpatient programs at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital include:

Partial hospitalization program (PHP)

In this program, you participate six hours a day, five days a week, with an emphasis on mental health and coping. The groups focus on a variety of subjects designed to aid you in understanding and managing your symptoms in a more effective manner. You will receive ongoing monitoring and treatment from a psychiatrist, registered nurse and licensed therapist. Lunch is provided during the program.

Intensive outpatient program (IOP)

In this outpatient program, you will be provided with a safe, therapeutic environment while working with a team that will encourage and promote your recovery. This program helps as an initial point of care, a step up from routine outpatient services or a step down from an inpatient stay or residential care.

Group therapy is offered and focuses on coping skills, assertiveness skills, goal setting and co-occurring disorders. You will receive four hours of treatment per day, for three days a week, and you will be seen by a psychiatrist.

In addition to the traditional treatments we provide, we offer ECT for people who are not responsive to other forms of therapy or medication.

How ECT works

ECT is a behavioral health treatment option for severe symptoms of mental illness. It was once referred to as "electroshock therapy" since it involves the application of a small electrical stimulus to the scalp. This causes the brain to release chemicals that can reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms.

Candidates for ECT treatment

Our psychiatrists may recommend this medical treatment for you if you are:

• Chronically depressed
• Chronically suicidal
• Experiencing severe mania or schizophrenia and have been partially responsive or nonresponsive to medications and counseling
• In need of a rapid response treatment
• Medication resistant
• Resistant to depression treatment
• Severely and chronically psychotic, including conditions such as catatonia
• Suffering from bipolar disorder

Benefits of ECT

ECT can help you start recovering faster and have a higher success rate than when using medication, such as antidepressants, alone. Some benefits of ECT include:

• Fewer side effects than many medications
• Majority of patients with depression respond favorably
• Results are often immediate

Length of ECT treatment sessions

To achieve the best outcomes, ECT involves a series of treatments. They are typically completed three times a week, averaging between six to 12 total treatments.

The number of treatments can vary according to the individual and customized treatment plan.

Behavioral Health Center
HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors' Hospital
5731 Bee Ridge Rd
Sarasota, FL 34233

For assistance or to learn more, please call (941) 342-4461.