Weekly Insights: Cleveland Clinic Behavioral Health Center Adolescent & Young Adult IOP

Indian River County's rate of hospitalizations for mood and depressive disorders among youth under age 18 is over twice the state average. According to the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, 40.2% of male students and 51.5% of female students in Indian River felt depressed or sad most days. Untreated mental health among adolescents can lead to suicide or more chronic conditions in adulthood. With adequate resources, however, these outcomes are preventable.

In partnership with United Way of Indian River County and John's Island Community Service League, Indian River Community Foundation committed to funding the Indian River Cleveland Clinic Behavioral Health Center Adolescent and Young Adult Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) $50,000 per year for three years. The IOP program has increased access to behavioral health care in Indian River County by admitting young adults to the program. Grant funds will be used to reduce undesired outcomes associated with poor behavioral health or substance use by giving comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, teaching psychiatric medication management, and hosting individual & family therapy/workshops. Grant funds will also be used to increase access to substance use prevention and treatment by providing substance use and recovery services. The primary focus of the program will be to help youth develop resiliency and coping strategies using evidence-based treatments to address behavioral needs and co-occurring substance use disorders. 

Clinical Assessments completed at the beginning of treatment (pre-test) and upon completion of the program (post-test) showed the following results among patients:

• 56% decrease in mood disorder symptoms.
• 50.3% decrease in depressive symptoms.
• 36.2% decrease in symptoms of anxiety.
• 36.1% decrease in symptoms of anxiety.

Click here to view the Mental Health Prevention and Treatment in Indian River County System Map.

Weekly Insights works in conjunction with Indian River Indicators. Indian River Indicators was launched in June 2021 and originated after the completion of the 2019 Indian River Community Needs Assessment. It provides key data and information about our community that is updated annually and can be used to support and sustain proven programs. It can also be used by community leaders to develop policy, promote promising practices and inspire innovation that can lead to solutions to persistent community challenges. Indian River Community Foundation holds monthly informational sessions to introduce the community to this new resource. The next session will be held on Tuesday, February 1st at 4pm via zoom. Please email Foundation Coordinator, Chiaka Nwosu, at chiaka@ircommunityfoundation.org to attend a session.

To learn more visit www.ircommunityfoundation.org and click “Indian River Indicators” or contact a member of the Community Foundation’s team at 772.492.1407.