How does The Wave determine the level of care needed for a young person during the assessment process?

During the assessment process, The Wave considers factors such as the severity of the presenting illness, the risks associated with the young person and others around them, and the specific needs of the family. Based on these factors, The Wave matches the level of care provided to meet the individual needs of the young person and their family.

What are some reasons that may indicate a need for Intensive or Higher Level of Care?

Young people may require Intensive or Higher Level of Care if they need specific medical intervention, nutritional intervention, or assistance in managing erratic behaviors. Additionally, those who require immediate nutritional stabilisation or have treatment-resistant schizophrenia or psychosis may benefit from the highest levels of intervention.

What is Intensive Inpatient Care, and when is it necessary?

Intensive Inpatient Care is the highest level of care offered by The Wave and is reserved for young people in crisis or emergency situations. It is appropriate for those who have a current desire to harm themselves or have plans to end their life. Young people in need of one-to-one care are accommodated in a higher level of care house to provide immediate support and stabilization before transfer back to the main house.

How long do Intensive or Higher Level of Care stays typically last?

Intensive or Higher Level of Care stays usually range from 3 to 7 days. However, young people experiencing severe mental health crises or requiring additional support for stabilization may have more extended stays. The duration of the stay is determined based on the individual's needs. Please note that the specific details and procedures for levels of care may vary at The Wave, and it is recommended to consult with their team for accurate and up-to-date information regarding their services.

Under what circumstances may a young person be subject to involuntary admission at The Wave?

In very limited circumstances, when a young person is deemed very unwell and poses a severe risk to themselves or others, a psychiatrist may determine that admission to a hospital is necessary for their safety. In such cases, the Medical Director at The Wave, who is licensed in Malaysia, can make an application for Involuntary Admission under The Mental Health Act 2001, Act 615.

Higher Level care - thewaveclinic.com

For young people requiring additional support to stabilise

Higher Level of Care

Parents are often concerned about the possibility of their teens or young adults requiring a higher level of care. During assessment, we will match our level of care to your families needs. We take into consideration the severity of the presenting illness, the ‘risks’ for the young person and others around them.

Young people may require an Intensive or Higher Level of Care if they need specific medical intervention, nutritional intervention, or to manage erratic behaviours. Young people who require immediate nutritional stabilisation or those who have treatment-resistant schizophrenia or psychosis may benefit from the highest levels of intervention.

Intensive Inpatient Care is our highest level of care for those in a crisis or an emergency situation. This can include young people who have a current desire to harm themselves or plans to end their life. Young people who require one-to-one care are looked after in a higher level of care house. This helps us settle and stabilise them quickly whilst preparing them for transfer back to our main house.

Intensive or Higher Level of Care stays are usually from 3–7 days, with more extended stays for young people experiencing very severe mental health crises or who need additional support to stabilise.

Here to help your family find solutions to even the most complex situations

Involuntary Admission

Young people who are very unwell may not be able to make the best decisions for themselves or others. In some cases, young people may pose a severe risk to themselves or harm to others.

In very limited circumstances, a psychiatrist may decide that admission to a hospital is the most appropriate management for the safety of a young person. Sometimes, this may be against their immediate wishes.

Under The Mental Health Act 2001, Act 615, the Medical Director at The Wave (licensed in Malaysia) can make an application for Involuntary Admission. Our families are often relieved to know that their teen or young adult can be accommodated in crisis and treatment can continue in situ, with requirement to discharge.

We will take time to understand your concerns and fears and are here to help your family find solutions to even the most complex situations.

Immediate high level care

Emergency Teen Psychiatric Care

Parents and carers are used to dealing with accidents and emergencies, together with sudden onset physical illness in their children and teenagers. Psychiatric emergency care maybe a little more difficult for families to identify.

A psychiatric emergency is a dangerous or life threatening situation where a child, teen or young adult needs immediate psychiatric assistance. In the event of such an emergency, please call 911, 999 or your local emergency medical numbers. You should ask for the on-call psychiatrist when you reach the emergency department.

An Emergency Admission or Crisis Intervention may follow. Try to stay as calm and present as possible. Your child or teen may be anxious or feel very low, numb or tearful. This is not the time to let your child or teen practise making choices and decisions for themselves. Support your child and take advice from the adolescent mental health professionals who are there to support the family.

When are Emergency Psychiatric Care and Emergency Mental Health Assessments required?

Emergency Psychiatric Care and Emergency Mental Health Assessments are required when your child, teen or young adult:

Is at risk of self-harm or suicide
Is at risk of harming others
Expresses a wish to end their life
Expresses a wish to kill others
Searches online about suicide/self-harm or dying
Tells others in-person or online about their wish to end their life
Makes a will or letter of event of their death
Stockpiles pills, makes suicide plans, collects weapons
Becomes violent towards others
Sets fires, threatens others, harms animals
Becomes increasingly paranoid
Acts strangely or does not make sense
Seems confused
Seeing, hearing or smelling things that others cannot sense
Has taken more medication than prescribed
Has injuries from cutting, burning or other self-harm actions
Is refusing to eat or drink and displays disordered eating behaviours.

If you suspect that your child has taken substances, overdosed, attempted suicide or is at immediate risk please take urgent action and call your local emergency number.

If you suspect that your child has overdosed, please take the medication bottles with you to the emergency department. If your child has written a suicide note please take it along to the psychiatrist or mental health team. Please take all current medications with you.

With your family at home from assessment through to admission

Crisis Interventions

Psychiatric emergencies in young people may lead to crisis intervention. A crisis intervention is also known as an emotional crisis in children, teens and young adults and usually results in an immediate admission to a residential program, inpatient treatment, eating disorder admission or placement on a Child and Adolescent (or adult) psychiatric ward.

Parents may need emergency assistance with escalating negative behaviours, emotional dysregulation, self-harm, hurting others or increasingly risk-taking behaviours. Some young people may have a history of running away, stealing or other criminal behaviour. Young people may have refused treatment, despite it being in their best interests and may have left treatment against the advice of their doctors and the medical team.

The Wave Crisis Intervention Team is able to travel to your home in any worldwide location to access and provide immediate high level care, transferring to our main programs or higher level of care as required. Our team of psychiatrists, psychotherapists and psychiatric nurses are able to be with your family at home from assessment through to admission.

Signs that your child, teen or young adult may need Crisis Intervention.

Threats to harm themselves or others
Frequent crying
Rapid mood swings, mania, depression, rage, anger, violence, sadness
Sleep pattern changes, insomnia, sleeping more than usual
Changes in eating behaviours, extreme restricting or bingeing
Appears physically unwell
Self-destructive behaviours
Damaging property, hurting others, destruction
Stops taking prescribed medication
Use of drugs/alcohol, frequently intoxicated, history of blackouts
Isolation, relationship problems, bullying.

Teens and young adults should be assessed by a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team as soon as possible. Admission should take place as soon as practical. A higher level of care may be suggested in the event of suicidal or self-harm behaviours or where one to one care is needed during the early days of treatment.

Thank you for your extraordinary work with L. You maneuvered the ship beautifully to a safe port while always keeping us in the loop and educating us. Thank you for your research, dedication, availability (in the wee hours) and high level of care you have shown my daughter. We will certainly miss you and your incredible work.

Together, we will begin your recovery journey

We are here to help

Have any questions or want to get started with the admissions process? Contact our friendly care team – they’ll be happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have and will walk you through how to prepare for your child’s stay at The Wave.

The Wave has provided me with the ability to feel calm with the secure feeling that they are a team of professionals who know exact what my daughter needs. It has not been easy and continues to be a challenging journey. The consistent communication through WhatsApp, phone calls, in-person and virtual family therapy sessions and weekly report have made being halfway across the world feel as if I am as part of my daughter’s treatment as I possibly can.

I had a great experience when I was on The Wave. It was one of the best experiences in my life. I enjoy all the sessions conducted by the team. I never had a chance to speak in group, specially with friends from other countries before.

It opens my eyes and gives me a new knowledge and experience to be a better person.