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Evidence on residential mental health treatment.

A curated, plain-English library of peer-reviewed and federal research. Hand-picked, not aggregated — every entry is read and summarized so families and clinicians can see what the evidence actually says.

6
Studies indexed
6
Topic areas covered
100%
Peer-reviewed or federal sources
June 28, 2026
Last updated
Featured · Outcomes

Mental Illness in the United States: Prevalence and Treatment

NIMH's annual statistical summary on how many U.S. adults and adolescents live with a mental illness, how many receive treatment, and where the largest gaps are.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) · NIMH Statistics — U.S. Department of Health & Human Services · 2024
Read the summary →
  1. Access & Policy2023

    National Mental Health Services Survey (N-MHSS): Residential Treatment Capacity

    SAMHSA's annual census of U.S. mental health facilities — including how many provide 24-hour residential treatment, what populations they serve, and what payers they accept.

    N-MHSS Annual Report
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  2. Length of Stay2022

    Length of Stay and Outcomes in Residential Mental Health Treatment: A Systematic Review

    A systematic review of how length of stay relates to clinical outcomes in adult residential mental health treatment, across diagnoses including mood disorders, anxiety, PTSD, and personality disorders.

    Journal of Psychiatric Research / equivalent peer-reviewed venues
    Read summary →
  3. Dual Diagnosis2023

    Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders

    A synthesis of evidence on integrated treatment models for people with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, including residential settings.

    SAMHSA Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center; Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
    Read summary →
  4. Adolescents2021

    Outcomes of Residential Treatment for Adolescents with Serious Emotional Disturbance

    Multi-site outcome research and AACAP guidance on when residential treatment is appropriate for adolescents, and what factors predict better outcomes.

    Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
    Read summary →
  5. Family2023

    Family Involvement and Outcomes in Mental Health Treatment

    An evidence summary on how family involvement during and after mental health treatment affects relapse, rehospitalization, and long-term recovery.

    NAMI; peer-reviewed family-intervention literature
    Read summary →

Plain rules

  • Peer-reviewed journals or federal/NGO publications only.
  • We read the study, not just the press release.
  • We flag limitations as openly as findings.
  • No referral relationships with any treatment provider.

Where we pull from

NIMH · SAMHSA · APA · AACAP · Cochrane · JAMA · The Lancet · NAMI

Know a study we should include?

We review every suggestion. Peer-reviewed or federal sources only.

Suggest a study

If you or someone you love is in crisis, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For free, confidential treatment information and referrals, call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).