Expanding Access to Compassionate Behavioral Health Care to Meet Community Need

ECHN’s 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment reported that East Hartford, Vernon and Manchester had significantly higher hospitalization rates and emergency room visits for behavioral health and substance abuse issues, compared to the statewide average. To address this need in our community, ECHN has expanded access to behavioral health services across all age groups, focusing on inpatient care and increased capacity to treat substance use disorders. We provide compassionate care for the whole person, recognizing that both mental health and physical health matter to your well-being.

More Access, More Capacity:
ECHN operates a range of inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services at Manchester Memorial Hospital (MMH) and Rockville General Hospital (RGH). ECHN’s behavioral health outpatient services and resources available through community partnerships will further support our increase in behavioral health beds.

Comprehensive Behavioral Services include:

• Outpatient Child and Adolescent Services
• Outpatient Adult Services for behavioral health and substance use
• Clinical Day School, a fully accredited special education school serving adolescents in grades 6 through 12 with behavioral health needs
• Inpatient Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit
• Inpatient Older Adult Behavioral Care Center
• Inpatient Young Adult Unit
• Inpatient Adult Behavioral Health Unit
• Emergency Crisis Services through the Emergency Departments
• Remote Child and Adolescent Outpatient Services via Telehealth 
• Coming soon: Inpatient Dual Diagnosis Unit to provide care to those suffering from the combination of substance abuse and behavioral health diagnoses

The New Young Adult Program:
The opening of a new MMH Young Adult Unit at RGH represents an important step to address an emerging behavioral health crisis. Young adults are less likely to receive mental health services than adults 26 to 49 or 50 and older. Yet nearly a third of the 18 to 26 age group has mental health issues, the highest percentage by comparison to older adults according to the National Institutes of Mental Health.

According to Centers for Disease Control (those 18-24 year of age):
63% report symptoms of anxiety or depression
25% report increased substance abuse
25% have seriously considered suicide

The transition from adolescence to young adulthood is fraught with challenges related to continuing brain development of the pre-frontal cortex, separation from parents for school or work, and the difficulties of finding one’s own way in the world. The Young Adult Program is designed to help people find appropriate treatment and support while developing coping skills in an increasingly challenging world.

This is the second of an informational series designed to keep you informed of our future-focused momentum. Look for more updates in the weeks to come. All of us at ECHN take great pride in being your community hospital, and we understand the tremendous responsibility of improving the health and well-being of the people who live and work here. We are transforming healthcare for all of us. Learn more about ECHN’s Behavioral Health Services online or call 860.647.6800

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ABOUT ECHN
Eastern Connecticut Health Network operates acute care hospitals and emergency services in Manchester and Rockville, serving a region of over 300,000 people in 19 towns. Its affiliates include Manchester Memorial Hospital, Rockville General Hospital, ECHN Medical Group, Women’s Center for Wellness and the John A. DeQuattro Cancer Center. Dedicated to providing compassionate health care services in over 30 specialties, ECHN is training the next generation of physicians in primary care, osteopathic neuromuscular manipulative medicine and transitional year residency, and will be expanding our residency programs to include behavioral health. ECHN specialty programs include Breast Imaging, Diabetes care, Gastroenterology and Digestive Health, General Surgery, Heart and Vascular Services, Integrative Health, Maternity, Occupational Health, Pain Management, Primary Care, Pulmonary, Sleep Disorders, Stroke Care, Urgent Care, Wound Care and the Women’s Center for Wellness. Follow-up care services are supplemented by Visiting Nurse and Health Services of Connecticut. ECHN is a member of Prospect Medical Holdings, a national family of hospitals and health networks.