Greenwich Hospital, United Way celebrate opening of adolescent mental health program

Leaders from Greenwich Hospital, Greenwich United Way, Yale New Haven Health, Yale Psychiatry, and the town of Greenwich celebrate the opening of Greenwich Hospital’s new Adolescent Behavioral Health Outpatient Center, the first of its kind in the community. Photo courtesy of Greenwich Hospital

GREENWICH – Greenwich Hospital and Greenwich United Way this week celebrated the opening of its new Adolescent Behavioral Health Outpatient Program for young people 12-18.

Greenwich Hospital, which serves both Fairfield and Westchester counties, honored the community members whose generous support made the new program possible at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 30. The program is located at 500 W. Putnam Avenue in the heart of Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital Pediatric Specialty Center in Greenwich.

It is geared to meet the unique behavioral health needs of adolescents, and includes intensive outpatient services, cognitive-behavioral group interventions and medication management. Additionally, in collaboration with Yale Psychiatry, the initiative includes research to improve the treatment options for young people.

“As we are all aware, our nation is grappling with a mental health epidemic that is impacting our younger population in an unprecedented way. No community is immune, including our own,” Greenwich Hospital Board Chair W. Robert Berkley Jr. said at the ribbon-cutting. “Tonight, we are here to celebrate the launch of a groundbreaking program for the youth in the communities we serve.”

Berkley thanked Greenwich residents Richard and Ellen Richman, who led a 1-to-1 match that inspired many in the community to donate. Also recognized were Greenwich residents Scott and Icy Frantz, whose substantial gift to the program contributed to bringing this high level of care to adolescent patients.

“Through community support, $5.1 million was raised, of which $1.6 million came from the Greenwich United Way,” said Noël Appel, senior vice president and chief development officer at Greenwich Hospital. “The United Way’s fundraising for the program covered the design and construction costs of the space, demonstrating their shared commitment to providing vital services to adolescents in need of mental health care.”

United Way CEO David Rabin explained how the adolescent program is designed to help youth address mental health issues.

“This program will be integral to helping overcome the mental health challenges plaguing our youth and adolescents,” said Rabin. “The results from our 2020 Needs Assessment showed that mental health was a top three need within our community. We are so pleased that this partnership, with the support of our donors, has enabled access to expert behavioral health care.”

In addition to the adolescent outpatient center, Greenwich Hospital has also opened a new Intensive Outpatient Program for patients 19 years and older. The hospital also opened a new Interventional Psychiatry Service at 5 Perryridge Road. This program is an extension of Yale Medicine’s Interventional Psychiatry Service – home to some of the world’s most pioneering experts within the field.

Greenwich Hospital is a member of Yale New Haven Health. Greenwich is a 206-bed regional medical center serving lower Fairfield County and Westchester County, New York.