About Inpatient Care

Antara's main centre, Antaragram, has more than 200 in-patient beds. Inpatient care is reserved for those patients who are unable to be supported as outpatients or in the community. This may be due to the severity of the illness or the patient or familiy's ability to cope. In other cases patients are admitted from other organisations or charities.

The focus is on assessment and intensive therapy, working through the early (acute) stages of illness to rehabilitation and eventually resettlement after at least 3 weeks.

Mental illness

Antaragram has an acute and rehabilitation ward each for men and women.

• Male wards - Many men suffer from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or anxiety disorders. Milder depression is more often coped with in the community and is less likely to be diagnosed in men. Substance abuse is another major problem for men (see below)
  
• Female wards - Women attending Antara come with a diverse range of problems, but often these are complicated by gender inequalities, domestic or other abuse, widow-hood or self-harm.

Antara takes an holistic approach to care involving:

• Yoga and meditation
• Exercise
• Group therapy
• Individual counselling
• Art, drama and dance therapy.
• Pharmacotherapy
• General medical support
• Occupational therapy and vocational training

Substance Abuse

Antara also has a 30 bed substance abuse ward and detox centre. Many patients go through this unit every year and can travel some distances to attend. Patients may have problems with

• Alcohol
• Heroin (Mainly brown-sugar, inhaled not injected)
• Cannabis
• Diazepam and other benzodiazepines.

Patients are supported medically through detoxification and there is a stong element of group support and self-help in this ward. An Alcoholic / Narcotics Anonymous programme is often used alongside a day-long programme of meditation, exercise, house-keeping, group-work and individual work.

Children

In 2005 Antara opened a Children's Ward with 16 beds for children and 16 for accompanying parents or guardians. Funded by Friends of Antara UK, this ward has four separate bays for children and space for play and art therapy as well as living areas.

Children are admitted mainly for assessment and acute care. It is essential that parents or guardians are involved in the therapeutic process as Antara recognises that resolving child and adolescent mental health problems are as much to do with changing their home and social environment as with active therapy for them. Care also involves ensuring children can cope with self-care, nutritional and other medical support overseen by a paediatrician.

Antara's Child Guidance Team sees children and young people with a wide range of problems including:

• Self-harm
• Depression and anxiety
• Psychosis
• Behavioural problems (Autistic spectrum disorders, Attention-deficit disorders)
• Learning disabilities
• Emotional disorders