Rogers Memorial Hospital
Oconomowoc, WI

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Depression And Transition
To Adulthood FOCUS Of New
Young Adult Residential Program

Major depression and other mood disorders are estimated to affect one in 10 adults in the United States. To meet a growing need among those ages 18 to 30, Rogers Memorial Hospital is adding to its residential treatment with FOCUS, a program for young adults struggling with their transition to adulthood due to facing depression and other mood disorders.

Now open, FOCUS will initially take a small group of young adults, with plans to double capacity by summer in its Delafield location near Rogers' Oconomowoc campus in Wisconsin. The facility will offer a home-like atmosphere where young adults will go through treatment with others who are struggling with the same life transitions.

According to Jerry Halverson, M.D., medical director of FOCUS and adult services at Rogers, "For those ages 18 to 30, who are diagnosed with depression or other mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, the transition to adulthood is more complicated. If these disorders are not recognized and effectively treated, these individuals may be less likely to complete college, be gainfully employed or have meaningful relationships."

He stated that the FOCUS program grew out of a need to provide young adult patients an option for longer term care when shorter term inpatient and outpatient experiences are not enough. "For these young adults, it may not be really clear what they are dealing with. Our goal is to clarify their diagnoses, provide effective, evidence-based treatment and help them master the independent living skills they need to take that next step to move forward in their lives."

The overall goal for patients is not only to treat their depression or mood disorder, but also to address co-occurring issues like anxiety and substance use. FOCUS will work with patients to give them the tools they need to succeed by teaching them to get in a routine, setting a schedule of structured activity and learning how to identify the behaviors that lead to activity avoidance or routine disruption.

Utilizing Rogers' expertise in cognitive behavioral therapy in a unique group-based setting, the program will include behavioral activation, which helps to break down basic skills into doable portions of time through daily goals. Through therapeutic activities, an important part of FOCUS is to help patients learn the skills they need to succeed such as stepping out of their comfort zones to ask others for help, set schedules or even balance checkbooks.

FOCUS is the sixth residential treatment program at Rogers' Oconomowoc location and the first new residential program since the Child Center opened in 2007.

For more information on Rogers' FOCUS program and depression or other mood disorders treatment, please visit www.rogershospital.org.

Rogers Memorial Hospital is a key corporation of Rogers Behavioral Health System, which also includes: Rogers Memorial Hospital Foundation, Inc.; Rogers Partners in Behavioral Health, LLC; Rogers Center for Research and Training; and Rogers InHealth. The hospital has become nationally recognized for its specialized residential treatment services and affiliations with academic institutions and teaching hospitals in the area. Rogers Memorial Hospital is currently Wisconsin's largest not-for-profit, private behavioral health hospital, providing adults, children and adolescents with depression and mood disorders treatment, eating disorders treatment, addiction treatment, obsessive-compulsive and anxiety disorders treatment, as well as caring for a variety of other child and adolescent mental health concerns.