One South: Portrait of a Psych Unit

Young adults in crisis arrive at One South and the doctors and staff rush to evaluate, stabilize, and support them, with the goal of readying them to leave the unit with a practical out-patient treatment plan. The patients have several group therapy sessions and meet one-on-one with doctors daily. While away from the patients, the staff also meet to support each other.

As treatment progresses, patients form connections with each other and learn coping skills such as distress tolerance and radical acceptance as they gain insight into their own behavior. The staff counsels the patients about what to watch for as they try to reassimilate to life outside. As several patients successfully leave the unit, new patients continue to arrive.