As rates of anxiety, depression and suicide among children and young adults grow, the need for comprehensive, accessible mental health services for this population has never been more pressing. Patients often turn to the emergency room for help when no other avenues are available. Ellis Medicine’s Family Room offers their community a unique alternative to the ER. A walk-in mental health center for adolescents and teens 10 to 17 years old, the Family Room treats patients in mental health crises in a warm, non-clinical setting.
The Family Room is designed to provide a calming environment, including cozy furniture and soft lighting. Kids can come to the Family Room with or without a guardian. A designated peer counselor does an initial assessment and gathers background information, then a social worker assesses safety risks and decides next steps. Therapeutic interventions and stabilization are also provided. A case manager then meets with the child and their caregiver/guardian if appropriate and provides them with resources and referrals tailored to their needs. Drop-in support groups for area youth are also offered on a weekly basis.
In addition to providing care, the Family Room diverts patients from the ER, easing overcrowding and saving costs for patients and the hospital. In the first nine months, 85% of Family Room visitors avoided an ER trip, saving an estimated $357,900 in healthcare costs. Ellis Medicine worked with community partners, including the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, The Little Family Foundation and The Schenectady Foundation to make the Family Room a reality.
Metrics and outcomes from the first nine months of the program include:
For more information, contact Philip Schwartz, senior director, marketing and communications, Ellis Medicine, at schwartzp@ellismedicine.org or 518.831.8588.