What is the difference between mental health symptoms and a diagnosis?

Many people experience mental health symptoms like sadness, worry, or trouble sleeping. A mental health diagnosis, however, is made by a qualified professional when these symptoms are persistent, significantly impact daily functioning, and meet specific criteria outlined in diagnostic manuals. While symptoms are common, a diagnosis indicates a treatable medical condition that can benefit from professional care.

How do I know if I need a higher level of care than weekly therapy?

If your symptoms are severe, persistent, or significantly interfere with your daily life, work, or relationships, and weekly therapy isn’t providing enough relief, a higher level of care like PHP or IOP might be beneficial. These programs offer more intensive, structured support and a wider range of therapies than traditional outpatient sessions. Our admissions team can help you assess your needs.

Can mental health conditions be treated alongside substance use disorders?

Absolutely. At Steel Wellness, we specialize in treating co-occurring disorders (also known as dual diagnosis). We understand that mental health conditions and substance use disorders often go hand-in-hand and can fuel each other. Our integrated approach addresses both conditions simultaneously, which is crucial for achieving stable and lasting recovery.

What types of therapies are used in mental health treatment?

We utilize a range of evidence-based therapies tailored to individual needs. These include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and holistic approaches. The specific therapies used will depend on your diagnosis, symptoms, and personal goals.

Is medication always part of mental health treatment?

Medication can be a helpful tool for many mental health conditions, especially for managing severe symptoms or achieving stability. However, it is not always required. Our psychiatric team will assess your individual needs and discuss whether medication is an appropriate part of your personalized treatment plan. The decision to use medication is always made collaboratively with you.

What We Treat

At Steel Wellness, we are here to help. We offer proven mental health and addiction solutions designed for the people of Allegheny County. Our goal is to provide a clear path to healing for individuals and families dealing with these challenges. We understand that seeking help is a courageous step, and we are committed to providing care that is both clinically excellent and deeply compassionate.

Compassionate and Informed Care for Allegheny County

We understand that dealing with mental health and addiction can feel incredibly heavy, especially here in our community. These are not isolated struggles, but often interconnected “diseases of despair” fueled by deep-seated societal stressors and systemic failures. We exist because we see the real struggles our community faces, and our services are a direct, evidence-based answer to these specific problems.

Our approach is rooted in a deep understanding of the local landscape, ensuring our care is relevant and impactful.

The Widespread Impact: Anxiety and Depression

The burden of mental illness on the population is immense and has established a new, elevated baseline of distress in the post-pandemic era. For example, in early 2023, nearly one-third (32.8%) of adult Pennsylvanians reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder.

This rate slightly exceeded the national average. This powerful statistic validates the experiences of a vast segment of our community, making it clear that feeling overwhelmed, worried, or sad is a shared experience, not an isolated one. You are truly not alone in what you’re facing.

We speak with confidence about the truth of mental health and addiction issues in Allegheny County and Pennsylvania. Our approach is professional and precise, but always caring and easy to understand. This section will help you learn about the different conditions we treat and how our caring, all-in-one approach can help you find healing and strength. Our complete care includes:

Personalized Treatment Plans: We create a plan just for you, based on your unique needs and situation.
Proven Therapies: We use methods that are known to work, helping you achieve lasting recovery. Explore our range of therapies.
Integrated Dual Diagnosis Care: We treat mental health issues and substance use disorders together, because they often go hand-in-hand.
Community-Focused Approach: We understand the specific challenges of our region and tailor our support to fit.

Formal Diagnoses and Serious Mental Illness (SMI)

Beyond just symptoms, formal mental health diagnoses are widespread and impact a significant portion of our population. In 2022, an estimated 1.83 million adults in the state experienced any mental illness. A substantial subset of these, 7.8%—or 626,000 people—were suffering from a Serious Mental Illness (SMI).

This designation refers to conditions that cause significant functional impairment, meaning they can severely impact a person’s ability to work, maintain relationships, or manage daily life. Such conditions often require a higher, more intensive level of care than traditional outpatient therapy can provide. The most common of these conditions, including major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, collectively account for over 60% of all reported adult mental health diagnoses.

At Steel Wellness, our mental health content aims to make you feel seen and understood, using these real numbers to break down the stigma and show the true scale of need in our community. We are equipped to provide the specialized care required for SMI, ensuring no one is left without viable options.

Facing the Addiction Crisis Head-On

Allegheny County is dealing with a serious and lethal problem: substance use disorder (SUD). An estimated 1.92 million Pennsylvanians aged 12 and older, which is 17.3% of this group, met the criteria for SUD in the past year (2022-2023). Our information on addiction looks at two main issues in Allegheny County: the ongoing problem of traditional SUDs and the newer, dangerous crisis of stimulants being mixed with fentanyl. We are confident in our understanding of these challenges in our area and are dedicated to providing life-saving interventions.

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The Evolving Threat: Fentanyl Contamination

The primary driver of overdose deaths is no longer just prescription opioids or even heroin. It’s now the rapid spread of fentanyl, a powerful drug made illegally, which was found in almost 77% of all overdose deaths in Pennsylvania in 2023. This has made the entire illicit drug supply dangerously unpredictable. It’s important to understand that while overall numbers might look ‘average,’ the real-world results in critical areas like overdose deaths are devastating. Our message is clear and carefully planned to directly address these unique dangers our community faces. We emphasize harm reduction and specialized care for those unknowingly exposed to fentanyl.

Types of Substance Use Disorders We Treat:

At Steel Wellness, we provide comprehensive, evidence-based treatment for a range of substance use disorders, always with an understanding of the local context and the evolving nature of addiction. Our programs are designed to meet you where you are and guide you toward a healthier future.

Fentanyl Addiction: We address the serious threat of illegally made fentanyl. This powerful synthetic opioid is increasingly mixed into other drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, and fake pills, making every use potentially deadly. Our approach to Fentanyl Addiction focuses on understanding this evolving crisis and providing culturally competent care, especially given its disproportionate impact on our region’s Black community.
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD): We offer caring, evidence-based treatment for those struggling with all kinds of opioid use, whether it started with a prescription or with heroin. We also stress the widespread danger of fentanyl in the opioid supply. Our specialized care for Opioid Use Disorder includes Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), behavioral therapies, and comprehensive support to help you achieve and maintain sobriety.
Prescription Drug Addiction: Addiction often begins in the medicine cabinet. For many, a legitimate prescription for pain, anxiety, or ADHD can become a dependency that feels impossible to control. We understand this pathway and provide a supportive, non-judgmental environment to help you deal with prescription drug misuse before it gets worse and guide you toward recovery.
Benzodiazepine Addiction: Benzodiazepines like Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium are widely prescribed, but they carry a high risk of dependence and a dangerous withdrawal syndrome. Furthermore, counterfeit pills are often laced with fentanyl, creating a deadly combination. Medically supervised treatment is essential for safely managing benzodiazepine addiction. Understand the risks and comprehensive treatment we offer for Benzodiazepine Addiction, which prioritizes your safety and long-term well-being.
Alcohol Use Disorder: We know that in our area, heavy drinking has historically been more common than the national average. We offer a caring and effective way to recover when drinking feels like something you can’t control anymore, through our dedicated Alcohol Use Disorder programs. Our approach helps you understand your relationship with alcohol and build a healthier future.

Comprehensive Mental Health Treatment

Pennsylvania, especially Allegheny County, is facing a widespread mental health crisis. In 2022, about 1.83 million adults in the state experienced some form of mental illness. Of these, 7.8% (or 626,000 people) had a Serious Mental Illness (SMI), which means their condition significantly affects their daily life and often needs more intense care than regular therapy. Our mental health content aims to make you feel understood, using real numbers to break down the stigma around mental health.

The Urgent Youth Mental Health Emergency

The situation for young people in Pennsylvania is even more concerning and needs urgent attention. In 2022, 15.6% of teenagers aged 12-17 (about 143,000 young people) had at least one Major Depressive Episode (MDE). The most troubling part is that a shocking 61.2% of these teenagers with MDE received no treatment at all. This shows a major failure in the current system. We constantly highlight the urgency of this youth mental health crisis in our messages.

For Parents in Allegheny County: Is Your Teenager Struggling?

The numbers are concerning: in Pennsylvania, over 60% of teenagers who experience a major depressive episode don’t get any professional help. In today’s world of intense academic and social pressures, it can be hard to tell the difference between typical teen moodiness and a serious mental health condition. If your child is withdrawing, struggling in school, or seems to have lost their spark, don’t wait. Getting help early is extremely important. Learn the signs and find out how our specialized PHP and IOP programs can provide the life-saving support your child and family need.

Mental Health Conditions We Treat:

At Steel Wellness, we provide compassionate and effective treatment for a broad range of mental health conditions, always with a focus on your individual needs and overall well-being.

Anxiety Disorders: If you live with a constant feeling of worry, dread, or overwhelming stress, you are truly not alone. Our programs are designed to give you the tools and support to take back control of your life. Find out more about our comprehensive Anxiety Disorder treatment.
Depression: If you live with a deep sadness you can’t shake, you are truly not alone. Our programs are designed to give you the tools and support to take back control of your life. We offer dedicated Depression treatment options tailored to your needs, helping you find your spark again.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): We understand that trauma isn’t just one big event. Our therapies are designed to help you safely work through past experiences, manage triggers, and feel safe and hopeful about your future again. Discover our approach to PTSD treatment.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): This condition is serious and requires a detailed, all-in-one treatment approach that goes beyond weekly therapy. Our programs offer expert psychiatric care, medication management, and intense therapy—including DBT, which is a top treatment for BPD. You can learn more about our comprehensive Borderline Personality Disorder treatment.
Bipolar Disorder: This condition is serious and requires a detailed, all-in-one treatment approach that goes beyond weekly therapy. Our programs offer expert psychiatric care, medication management, and intense therapy. We provide comprehensive Bipolar Disorder treatment.
Panic Disorder: If you experience sudden, intense waves of fear or discomfort, often accompanied by physical symptoms, you may be dealing with panic disorder. Our programs offer targeted therapies to help you understand and manage these episodes. Find out more about our specialized Panic Disorder treatment.
Schizoaffective Disorder: This condition is serious and requires a detailed, all-in-one treatment approach that goes beyond weekly therapy. Our programs offer expert psychiatric care, medication management, and intense therapy. We offer comprehensive Schizoaffective Disorder treatment.

Our Integrated, 'Missing Middle' Solution

The mental health and addiction crises in Pennsylvania and Allegheny County are made worse by problems in the healthcare system that make it hard to get help, even for those actively looking. There’s a ‘missing middle’ in local healthcare. Often, someone finds that weekly therapy isn’t enough to manage their serious mental illness or prevent a relapse. Yet, they might not qualify for, can’t afford, or don’t need the strict rules of a 24/7 hospital stay. They are too sick for basic outpatient care but not ‘sick enough’ for the highest level of care. They are stuck in this gap with no good options.

This ‘missing middle’ is exactly what our Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs are designed to fill. These levels of care provide the structure, intensity, and combined services needed to treat complex conditions that often occur together. They also allow the person to stay connected to their home and community. Steel Wellness is more than just another facility; we are a vital and important addition to the local healthcare system, offering the specific level of care our community has truly needed.

Find Your Path to Recovery with Steel Wellness

No matter what mental health challenges you are facing, Steel Wellness offers hope and a clear way forward. Our approach is based on real data, filled with empathy, and focused on being your ally. This ensures you receive the most effective and caring support possible. We are committed to partnering with you to navigate a complex system and empower you to build strength and resilience.

Connect With Our Admissions Team

You can also explore our full range of services to find the level of care that best suits your journey.

What is the difference between mental health symptoms and a diagnosis?
Many people experience mental health symptoms like sadness, worry, or trouble sleeping. A mental health diagnosis, however, is made by a qualified professional when these symptoms are persistent, significantly impact daily functioning, and meet specific criteria outlined in diagnostic manuals. While symptoms are common, a diagnosis indicates a treatable medical condition that can benefit from professional care.
How do I know if I need a higher level of care than weekly therapy?
If your symptoms are severe, persistent, or significantly interfere with your daily life, work, or relationships, and weekly therapy isn’t providing enough relief, a higher level of care like PHP or IOP might be beneficial. These programs offer more intensive, structured support and a wider range of therapies than traditional outpatient sessions. Our admissions team can help you assess your needs.
Can mental health conditions be treated alongside substance use disorders?
Absolutely. At Steel Wellness, we specialize in treating co-occurring disorders (also known as dual diagnosis). We understand that mental health conditions and substance use disorders often go hand-in-hand and can fuel each other. Our integrated approach addresses both conditions simultaneously, which is crucial for achieving stable and lasting recovery.
What types of therapies are used in mental health treatment?
We utilize a range of evidence-based therapies tailored to individual needs. These include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and holistic approaches. The specific therapies used will depend on your diagnosis, symptoms, and personal goals.
Is medication always part of mental health treatment?
Medication can be a helpful tool for many mental health conditions, especially for managing severe symptoms or achieving stability. However, it is not always required. Our psychiatric team will assess your individual needs and discuss whether medication is an appropriate part of your personalized treatment plan. The decision to use medication is always made collaboratively with you.