DYER, Indiana | During a week when U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy highlighted the urgent need to address the nation’s youth mental health crisis, Franciscan Health Dyer celebrated an expansion of its behavioral health programs for adolescents age 12 to 17.
A blessing and dedication for the hospital’s Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) took place on Dec. 7, a day after the programs received a $10,000 donation from NIPSCO’s Charity of Choice program.
The PHP is a full day program, Monday through Friday, with youths attending six groups per day; The IOP is a half day program, Monday through Friday, with youths attending four groups per day. Both programs have individual sessions with a licensed clinical therapist, occupational therapist, and child psychiatrist. Additionally, occupational therapists teach the adolescents how to apply positive coping skills to their daily activities and behavioral health advisors educate them about life skills.
Before last week, PHP/IOP admissions had to be balanced with inpatient admissions at the hospital, limiting the number of youths in the program to two to three at a time. The relocation and expansion will allow the program to take up to eight patients, said Director of Behavioral Health Linda Thompson.
“These programs are ideal for adolescents who may have been on the inpatient unit. If they have the support system at home, they can then attend this program and receive additional treatment. It’s also ideal for children who may not meet the criteria to be admitted to an inpatient unit, but who can still benefit from treatment. This gives them an alternative, more than outpatient, less than inpatient. So, it really does fill that gap,” she said.
Board-certified child/adolescent psychiatrist Nisha Rao, MD, said, “Continuity of care can be achieved with these programs. They can be a bridge for adolescents discharged from the inpatient unit who don’t feel ready yet to return to the ‘real’ world and may still have goals to accomplish.”
Dr. Rao said the program teaches youths the strategies and coping mechanisms to address their day-to-day stressors and help them achieve emotional resilience. Other components of the program are substance use disorder education, medication management and the integration of parent management training. “It’s the relationship between the parent and child that plays a big role, because that’s the foundation,” she added.
Medical Director and board-certified child/adolescent psychiatrist Kirti Ramnivas, MD, said, “A combination of factors has created a significant uptick in depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes in school, staying home and social isolation coupled with social media involvement contribute to self-esteem and image issues, along with an increase in eating disorders.”
“We really want to thank NIPSCO for helping us with this expansion. The funding will help us to put some more pieces together,” Dr. Ramnivas said.
NIPSCO Public Affairs & Economic Development Manager Alexius Barber, in presenting the donation noted that NIPSCO’s Charity of Choice focus this year was on mental health. “That really warmed my heart because the employees realized the need. There was no stigma, no embarrassment. They realize we want to attack this issue and make it better. So, this is right in line with what our mission is,” she said.
“The need has skyrocketed, unfortunately, in the past 18 months. This is a very well timed and very generous gift,” said Franciscan Health Foundation Executive Director Rick Peltier.
To learn more about Franciscan Health Dyer’s adolescent behavioral health programs, or find out treatment options, call 1-800-STEP ONE (1-800-783-7663). Financial support for the programs can be provided through the Franciscan Health Foundation at FranciscanHealthFoundation.org or by calling (219) 661-3401.