It can be difficult to access behavioral health care, leading to unmet needs. In fact, Washington State is among the states with the highest levels of unmet mental health care needs, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. A program at Providence Swedish’s Ballard and Edmonds campuses aims to help close some of these gaps. Swedish’s Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) provides a step down from both inpatient care and partial hospitalization-level care. The program is for anyone with acute psychiatric needs who is looking for more support than regular outpatient or weekly therapy. Patients typically attend three days a week for three to four hours a day. “They’re with other patients that have similar struggles, so it’s a great opportunity for them to connect and share in some of those similar struggles and develop coping skills to help manage their stress and depression,” said Kelsey Smith, licensed clinical social worker. The Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is one step up from IOP and offers different coping skills and a higher level of support. The five to six hour a day program is for those with more severe symptoms that make it difficult to get out of bed and function in daily life. “It’s for individuals who are volunteering to participate in the program, so [they] are motivated to seek care,” Smith said. Smith says if you notice a loved one struggling, it’s important to have a conversation with them about what you’re seeing. This includes addressing behaviors like missing work, sleeping more and not engaging with family and friends like they did before. The stigma associated with mental health is one of the main barriers to care, so it’s key to let your loved one know it’s okay to not be okay. “I think there’s a lot of stigma around mental health,” Smith said. “We’ve come a long way, but we still have a long ways to go.” Swedish is working to reduce this stigma. This includes partnerships with the Seattle Sounders and the Renton School District to highlight the importance of mental health and well-being care for kids and adolescents. In addition to the IOP and PHP, Swedish offers a variety of behavioral health programs, including inpatient care, services focused on perinatal mental health and addiction recovery. “When it comes to mental health, there are different programs, and one size does not fit all when it comes to care,” Smith said. To learn more about mental health care services, visit the Swedish website. Sponsored by Providence Swedish Segment Producer Suzie Wiley. Watch New Day Northwest at 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.