Becker’s is proud to spotlight 60 hospitals and health systems recognized for their exceptional psychiatry and behavioral health programs.
These organizations are committed to treating mental health as a vital part of overall wellbeing, providing support for the psychiatric, emotional and behavioral needs of their patients. Through a thoughtful combination of medication management, therapy, education and innovative treatment approaches, these programs are addressing one of healthcare’s most essential, and often overlooked, needs.
Note: This list is not exhaustive and is not an endorsement of included organizations or healthcare providers. Organizations cannot pay for inclusion on this list. We extend a special thank you to Rhoda Weiss for her contributions to this list. Organizations are presented in alphabetical order.
We accepted nominations for this list. Contact Anna Falvey at afalvey@beckershealthcare.com with questions or comments.
AdventHealth for Children (Orlando, Fla.). The expansion of AdventHealth for Children’s pediatric mental health services builds on the health system’s recent efforts to address youth mental health in Central Florida. In partnership with Dr. Phillips Charities, AdventHealth for Children created the AdventHealth for Children mental health program, the first of its kind in Central Florida. The program’s goals are to expand access to pediatric mental health care, increase early diagnosis and intervention, help families navigate the complexities of the mental and behavioral health care system, and reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations for children. In 2023, AdventHealth launched its “Be a Mindleader” campaign with Heart of Florida United Way. The campaign is designed to remove the stigma associated with mental health challenges by getting curated, expert information into the hands of kids, parents, caregivers, coaches, mentors and teachers. Wanting to bring the powerful message to more people, the campaign was transcreated into Spanish and named “Lidera ConscienteMENTE.” Lidera ConscienteMENTE is a first-of-its-kind destigmatization campaign disseminating expert information designed specifically for a Hispanic audience and encouraging open conversations about mental health. AdventHealth also plans to transcreate the campaign into Haitian Creole, the third-most spoken language in Central Florida after English and Spanish.
Advocate Health (Charlotte, N.C.). Advocate Health offers inpatient, outpatient and short-term intensive day treatment for patients with mental health or substance abuse issues. Conditions treated run the gamut from anxiety disorders and family conflict to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The multidisciplinary teams available create personalized programs with a focus on education, symptom management and coping skills. Classes, support groups, one-on-one counseling and medication are provided for the benefit of the patient and impacted family members. Park Ridge, Ill.-based Advocate Lutheran General Adult Day Hospital offers an intensive outpatient program that has been serving the Chicago community and its behavioral healthcare needs for 46 years.
Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital (Hoffman Estates, Ill.). For more than two decades, Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital has dedicated itself to treating mental health in the community, serving over 10,000 patients through hospitalization and out-patient efforts. A specialty Ascension treatment program uses a combination of a myriad of therapies, including cognitive behavioral, exposure and response treatment. Uniquely, Alexian Brothers cross-tracks patients with co-occurring conditions throughout their treatment, allowing them to seek treatment for multiple conditions simultaneously, resulting in expedited time in treatment and alleviated patient suffering. The hospital also offers a Behavioral Medicine Logistics Center, which triages emergency patients to multiple facilities for care, offers a specialized treatment program for those with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and provides a practice kitchen for patients in recovery from eating disorders. The hospital is also a leader in professional education, continually hosting educational and community events for over 20,000 attendees, largely sponsored with no cost to the families, parents, and professionals.
Avera Health (Sioux Falls, S.D.). Avera Health’s behavioral health services address the critical need for behavioral health services for all ages, one of the nation’s largest gaps in health care services. Despite the fact that many health systems have stepped away from behavioral health and psychiatric services over the last decades, Avera has expanded in this arena with innovations, new facilities, and new programs and services throughout the region. A leader in psychiatry and behavioral health services for 60 years, Avera Health invested in a $32 million, 110-bed behavioral health hospital with specialized units for seniors, adults, children and adolescents in 2006. Avera has built on this continuum of care with a 32-bed adult residential addiction care center opened in 2019 and adolescent residential addiction in 2022. Also in 2022, Avera opened a new behavioral health wing, bringing the total inpatient bed count to 146. This $28 million project, funded completely by philanthropy, added 24/7 behavioral health urgent care, an innovative approach for behavioral health crises that takes pressure off local emergency departments. Serving as a new front door to the continuum of behavioral health services, urgent care offers specialized assessments in an environment designed specifically for behavioral health. Other new services include partial hospitalization for adolescents. Behavioral health is among Avera’s top hospital service line with 7,500 patients served as inpatients each year.
BayCare Health System (Clearwater, Fla.). BayCare Health system is the largest health system in West Central Florida, and its mental health services support patients with over 4,000 beds and 1,600 specialists across a comprehensive network of crisis, inpatient, outpatient and telepsychiatry services. With a focus on holistic, patient-centered care, BayCare integrates behavioral health into primary and specialty care settings, enabling seamless transitions and addressing both physical and mental wellbeing. Innovations like the behavioral health navigation program and school-based trauma-informed care initiatives ensure proactive, community-level intervention, while the expansion of medication-assisted treatment programs help address substance use disorders. In 2025, the system will open Florida’s first behavioral health urgent care center, offering rapid stabilization and same-day psychiatric evaluations, a useful alternative to traditional emergency room care. BayCare’s pediatric mental health initiative integrates screenings into routine visits and partners with national campaigns to reduce stigma and empower families with educational tools. The program also offers a pioneering psychiatry residency and addiction fellowship.
Baylor Scott & White Health (Dallas). Baylor Scott & White Health provides outpatient services, interventions, assessments, telepsychiatry and, in certain locations, inpatient treatment for patients with behavioral health needs. Outpatient therapy offerings include individual, group, couples, family and cognitive therapy. The system employs top psychiatrists, psychologists and counselors to diagnose and treat psychiatric or neurological impairments and illnesses. They teach cognitive-behavioral strategies and intervention techniques for a variety of issues, ranging from sleep problems to stress management. In 2019, thanks to the increasingly digital nature of work and service, Baylor Scott & White Health launched a comprehensive, systemwide telepsychiatry program that continues to expand into underserved communities.
Boston Children’s Hospital. The psychiatry and behavioral sciences department at Boston Children’s Hospital is dedicated to erasing the stigma of mental illness by educating families, raising community awareness and increasing access to critical support services. The department’s skilled clinicians treat diseases and disorders that affect the emotional, behavioral and social health of children and adolescents. The department’s strengths in scientific research and mental health advocacy help its experienced psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and nurses deliver innovative, evidence-based, family-centered care. The department has established a center of research excellence in developmental psychopathology called The Tommy Fuss Center for Neuropsychiatric Disease Research, and another in community psychology called The Trauma and Community Resilience Center. Since 2023, the department has also had an affiliation with Boston-based Franciscan Children’s, which serves children and adolescents with complex medical, mental health and educational needs, with the goal of strengthening the behavioral health care system.
Boston Medical Center. The psychiatry department at Boston Medical Center provides comprehensive, culturally sensitive care for children, adolescents and adults, integrating groundbreaking research and state-of-the-art treatments. The department operates 616 inpatient beds and offers specialty programs, including the Community Behavioral Health Center, Brockton Behavioral Health Center, and the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Clinic. The Brockton center, with 106 inpatient psychiatric and clinical stabilization beds, focuses on expanding access to mental health services and employs a workforce that is 65% sourced from the local community, with more than 55% identifying as people of color. Boston Medical Center is also a leader in psychiatric research, with efforts spanning maternal and child mental health, veterans’ health, addiction psychiatry, Alzheimer’s disease and global psychiatry. The department’s global impact includes its collaboration with the Africa Global Mental Health Institute, which supports mental health professionals across 25 African countries. With $2.7 million in research funding, the system earned the “Integrated Behavioral Health Award” from the Association of American Medical Colleges in partnership with Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.
C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital (Ann Arbor, Mich.). C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, part of University of Michigan Health, is an academic medical center offering comprehensive pediatric behavioral and mental health services, as well as research studies. The inpatient psychiatric Nyman Family Unit for Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellness cares for patients dealing with issues like suicide, self-harm behaviors, anxiety disorders, psychosis, eating disorders and other behavioral issues. In addition to general, integrated and subspecialty psychiatric services, a special outpatient program focuses on pediatric obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety. The hospital also offers a comprehensive eating disorder program, with both partial hospitalization and outpatient options. A 24/7 child psychiatry consultation service is available to all inpatient medical units and emergency rooms, including psychiatric emergency services with direct care and crisis phone lines. The hospital is one of the few in the U.S. to offer pediatric electroconvulsive therapy for children with treatment-resistant depression and mood disorders, as well as complex issues including pediatric catatonia. Faculty research focuses on the interplay between physical development, behavior and health, and explores eating and feeding behavior, obesity, sleep disorders, integrative behavioral health, chronic illness treatment regimens, the transition from pediatric to adult care, medical decision-making, and quality of life.
Carilion Clinic (Roanoke, Va.). The Carlion Clinic department of psychiatry and behavioral health provides comprehensive mental health services across Southwest Virginia, with 66 inpatient beds in Roanoke and 36 in New River Valley. The department’s multidisciplinary team includes 37 psychiatrists, seven psychologists, and over 35 residents and fellows. Carilion’s emergency department “bridge to treatment” program, initiated in 2018, offers opioid use disorder patients maintenance treatment with buprenorphine, achieving a 75% retention rate. Carilion expanded the emergency department bridge program to seven Virginia hospitals with a $1.9 million grant. The clinic also excels in women’s mental health, particularly through its perinatal consultation services, and offers support via a center for grief and healing. Recently, the system introduced the “START NOW” psychotherapy intervention for mental health issues in prisoners. In 2023, Carilion was able to reduce its mental health patient waitlist by 89%.
Children’s Hospital Colorado (Aurora). Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Pediatric Mental Health Institute deploys a trauma-informed care model, redesigned family-inclusive inpatient units, and a robust behavioral health workforce of over 200 professionals. The newly established mental health emergency unit and crisis clinic employ a split-flow model and the “collaborative assessment and management of suicidality” framework to streamline suicide risk interventions and reduce emergency department visits. A certified pediatric dialectical behavior therapy program, the region’s first that accepts all insurance types, anchors its stepped outpatient care strategy. Meanwhile, specialty programs target a wide spectrum of conditions including eating disorders, neurodivergence and functional disorders. Innovations in AI for suicide risk prediction and motion-based behavioral forecasting complement its $23 million in research funding. The institute also commits to care continuity through its care transitions team and a nurse-assigned care model, which improved outcomes and cut restraint use by over 90%. The institute consistently earns the No. 1 spot in the region according to U.S. News & World Report.
Children’s Hospital of Orange County (Calif.). Children’s Hospital of Orange County’s psychiatry program provides a continuum of mental health care across inpatient, outpatient, intensive and emergency settings. The team offers diagnostic evaluation and treatment, including psychopharmacology and psychotherapy, as well as evidence-based interventions to help children, adolescents and their families overcome behavioral health issues. The program treats a full range of conditions, including but not limited to schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, psychosis, tic disorders and challenges related to co-occurring conditions. CHOC’s Cherese Mari Laulhere Mental Health Inpatient Center is the only inpatient facility in the county to treat patients younger than 10 years old. The center aims to integrate behavioral and physical health care, with mental health clinicians treating patients in primary care settings. CHOC’s Mental Health Crisis Clinic has offered immediate stabilization for youth experiencing suicidal ideation since its launch in late 2022. Knowing medical conditions like epilepsy, cancer, diabetes or a rare disease can affect a children’s mental health, pediatric psychologists are part of inpatient and outpatient treatment programs, thus ensuring patients and families can turn to specialized psychologists while receiving care anywhere at CHOC.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s department of child and adolescent psychiatry and behavioral sciences is home to many innovative programs that offer care for a wide range of behavioral health conditions, including anxiety, ADHD, psychosis and eating disorders. The system’s team of psychiatrists, psychologists, child and family therapists, clinical social workers and mental health nurse practitioners provides behavioral health services for infants, children and teens. In addition, the system leads research on the underlying causes of psychological and psychiatric conditions to discover new treatments. Its “Healthy Minds, Healthy Kids” program co-locates behavioral healthcare providers in CHOP primary care offices to treat common behavioral health conditions. In 2022, the department opened the Center for Advanced Behavioral Healthcare, which offers outpatient services, and in 2024 began a phased opening of the Behavioral Health and Crisis Center, which includes a walk-in crisis center and private inpatient rooms. CHOP was included on U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-2025 list of the top pediatric and adolescent behavioral health programs in the nation.
Christus Health (Irving, Texas). Christus Health prides itself on its compassionate and personalized care, which extends to mental as well as physical health. The system offers several behavioral and mental health programs and clinics that cater to children and adolescents, including an autism program and an anxiety clinic. For adults, the system offers inpatient and outpatient services to help restore quality of life. For adults over 55 years old, the system provides a geriatric program designed to address problems associated with aging, like memory disorders, grief and loss, and life transitions. The behavioral health staff includes expert psychiatrists to assist those in crisis or with a longer-term mental illness, behavioral health counselors for individual and group counseling sessions, and activity therapists that help engage patients. The multidisciplinary team also features nurses, mental health techs, social workers, and recreation therapists who offer diagnostics, coping methods, individualized and group treatment plans, medication and more.
Cincinnati Children’s. Cincinnati Children’s offers 99 inpatient psychiatry beds and a dedicated 24-bed residential unit at its College Hill facility. Staffed by over 500 specialists and supported by more than 200 personnel, the system’s Mental and Behavioral Health Institute centralizes child and adolescent psychiatry care, research and education. Through innovative treatments, robust research that received over $68 million in fiscal year 2024 funding, and intensive community engagement, the hospital addresses the mental health crisis at scale. The “Bridge program”, an outpatient emergency psychiatric assessment model, has cut emergency department and medical bed boarding by over 80% and reduced weekly admission rates significantly. The Mental and Behavioral Health Institute’s integration initiatives and suicide prevention frameworks are setting new standards in care delivery, while national partnerships and AI-driven research elevate their systemic impact. Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 hospital in pediatric and adolescent behavioral health for 2024-25, Cincinnati Children’s continues to innovate with programs like exposure coaching and pediatric-focused mental health training.
Cottage Hospital (Woodsville, N.H.). The Ray of Hope acute geriatric psychiatric unit at Cottage Hospital provides specialized psychiatric care for older adults in a rural setting. Opened in October 2016, the 10-bed unit serves as a critical resource for patients from New England, including 111 of New Hampshire’s 200-plus towns. The unit is dedicated to addressing the unique mental health needs of elderly individuals, offering acute psychiatric care in a supportive environment. By focusing on this vulnerable population, the program fills a significant gap in mental health services in rural areas. The Ray of Hope unit plays a vital role in providing timely, expert care to older adults experiencing psychiatric crises, ensuring they receive necessary treatment close to home.
Covenant Children’s Hospital (Lubbock, Texas). Covenant Children’s Hospital launched the region’s only comprehensive outpatient pediatric behavioral health program in late 2023, staffed by pediatric psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and licensed professional counselors. In its first year, the Pediatric Relational Health Center saw over 75,000 encounters, serving more than 12,000 unique patients. This included over 58,000 telehealth visits, 13,000 outpatient visits, and 3,000 partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient visits. The hospital also partners with Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, also in Lubbock, to support the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium’s telehealth access program, which provides services to 830 schools in 197 districts. Recently, the hospital was awarded a $4.1 million grant from the state to build a new pediatric inpatient unit, expanding its services and further integrating its outpatient program.
El Camino Health (Mountain View, Calif.). El Camino Health’s Scrivner Center for Mental Health & Addiction Services is a leader in addressing the growing mental health and substance use crisis, backed by a nearly $100 million investment in a state-of-the-art facility. Located within the Taube Pavilion, the 56,000-square-foot center offers a patient-centered environment for adults in acute psychiatric crises, with features prioritizing comfort, privacy and dignity. The health system is also a pioneer in maternal mental health, housing one of only four inpatient perinatal psychiatry units in the U.S. Notable achievements for the program include a 90% response time for psychiatric consultation encounters in the emergency department and a 73.8% average reduction in postnatal depression scores. The department has earned recognition for its high-quality care, including being highlighted by the California surgeon general for its women’s specialty unit and for its innovative “After-School Program Interventions and Resiliency Education” program for youth.
Endeavor Health Linden Oaks Behavioral Health Hospital (Naperville, Ill.). With locations throughout the Chicagoland area, Endeavor Health Linden Oaks Behavioral Health Hospital offers an extensive network of mental health care. Endeavor has streamlined patient admissions via their Care Management Center, resulting in less congested emergency departments and shorter patient wait times. In another effort to quickly connect patients with providers, Endeavor has established a bridge clinic that has prevented unnecessary visits to the ED and psychiatric hospitalizations for over 97% of patients. To further mental health awareness and education, the staff at Endeavor puts on monthly webinars and offers mental health first aid training. The facility has also developed the innovative patient family advisory council, which helps families understand how to best support a loved one experiencing a mental health issue. In addition, Endeavor has formed partnerships with local universities like the College of DuPage and North Central College, both of which send high school and college-age students to the center to gain clinical experience and gather information about the behavioral health world. Endeavor Health has received the “Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health” certification from Mental Health America, and has been recognized by the National Council of Mental Wellbeing and many others.
Geisinger (Danville, Pa.). Geisinger’s behavioral health department is serviced by over 200 clinicians and nearly 600 employees, all focused on providing outpatient care to rural parts of Pennsylvania. Geisinger’s service area is primarily a mental healthcare shortage area. The system is actively working to expand the mental health workforce by adding more providers. Geisinger has also launched a strong psychiatric telemedicine program to address shortages. In addition to hiring more pediatric psychiatrists, the system launched a bridge clinic for pediatric psychiatric patients, reducing the need for emergency care. Geisinger has also created a workforce development program in partnership with its medical school, the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, waiving medical school costs for students who go into psychiatry and commit to practicing locally. The department collaborates with over 50 faculty investigators in various clinical departments on a number of scientific projects.
HCA Florida Largo West Hospital. HCA Florida Largo West Hospital features a range of behavioral health treatment options. Among the hospital’s psychiatric offerings are a unit for voluntary inpatient crisis stabilization, an acute unit for voluntary and involuntary patient services, a geriatric inpatient unit and a medical inpatient environment with behavioral health embedded. There are also private rooms in the emergency department set aside for behavioral health crises, a partial hospitalization program and an outpatient group program. The hospital is one of the largest graduate medical education providers, training psychiatric residents to serve the mental health needs in the community. The program is the only provider in the county that offers electroconvulsive therapy on both an inpatient and outpatient basis.
Hackensack Meridian Health (Edison, N.J.). Hackensack Meridian Health, home to 568 behavioral health beds across its extensive New Jersey network, delivers some of the most comprehensive, integrated mental health services in the region, anchored by the Carrier Clinic and supported by 117 behavioral health physicians. The system’s continuum of care includes inpatient psychiatric hospitals, detoxification centers, adolescent residential facilities, outpatient clinics, and an accredited middle and high school. These facilities are all unified by the system’s mission to reduce stigma and meet patients with compassion at every point in their mental health journey. Innovations include the first medically integrated urgent care center in the U.S. to incorporate behavioral health services for patients as young as five, as well as Project HEAL and Elevate, nationally recognized violence intervention programs supported by the U.S. Department of Justice and the state’s attorney general. In 2025, Carrier Clinic will expand with a $40 million, 50,000-square-foot facility featuring a new adolescent unit, gym and family resource center designed to meet modern behavioral health needs. The system also leads in neuromodulation therapies, offering deep transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroconvulsive therapy across multiple sites, and supports population health through initiatives like the pediatric collaborative and embedded emergency psychiatric services. The department has received over $15 million in recent grants and funding.
Inova (Falls Church, Va.). Inova operates a robust 167-bed behavioral health program, serving adult and pediatric populations across inpatient units, emergency psychiatric care and addiction treatment. The department is supported by 46 behavioral health specialists and recently expanded with the launch of Northern Virginia’s first “EmPATH” unit, an evidence-based model that has shown up to a 70-80% reduction in hospitalization and a 90% drop in emergency room boarding times. In 2023, the system increased its inpatient capacity with the opening of the Veatch Behavioral Health Unit at Alexandria, Va.-based Inova Mount Vernon Hospital and extended services to adolescents through partnerships with pediatric specialties. The program also added new initiatives to combat addiction. Inova’s academic footprint continues to grow, with a new psychiatry residency program set to launch in September 2025 and a strong educational culture supported by the University of Virginia School of Medicine. The system innovates through integrated behavioral health in primary care, expanded group therapy offerings and evidence-based addiction treatment. The program also provides pioneering youth care at the Kellar Center and improved care access through tools like QGenda and DocuSign.
Kaiser Permanente (Oakland, Calif.). Kaiser Permanente offers several types of mental health care, including individual therapy, group therapy, medication, health classes and self-care resources. Believing that each person and each case is unique, Kaiser Permanente works to create tailor-made care plans for every individual, based on input from both the patient and provider. Patients can be seen by providers within the system, or by trusted outside providers if need be. Care is approached collaboratively, drawing from expert opinions of physicians in various departments like primary care, emergency care, and specialty areas like maternity, cardiac, and oncology. Kaiser Permanente also provides classes, support groups, digital self-care apps, and offerings such as “Find Your Words”, a public mental health awareness resource.
Loyola Medicine (Maywood, Ill.). Loyola Medicine’s department of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences delivers a continuum of psychiatric services across three hospitals with over 1,100 total beds, supported by a multidisciplinary team of more than 60 specialists. Their integrated care model spans inpatient, outpatient and telehealth services, ensuring individualized treatment across the mental health spectrum. Loyola Medicine pioneers advanced therapies such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and leverages digital tools to refine diagnostics and personalize care. The department actively addresses social determinants of health through community partnerships and service outreach to underserved populations. As a teaching hospital, the system fosters innovation and leadership via residency training and impactful research initiatives. Loyola Medicine has been recognized for high patient satisfaction and reduced readmission rates.
Maimonides Health (Brooklyn, N.Y.). Maimonides Medical Center’s psychiatry department has been a cornerstone of mental health care in Southern Brooklyn since 1968, now seeing over 80,000 outpatient visits, 5,000 emergency evaluations and 1,500 hospitalizations annually. The department’s wide-ranging services include specialty programs in LGBTQIA+ behavioral health, perinatal psychiatry, asylum-seeker mental health, and creative therapies like art and dance. The program is expanding with a new comprehensive psychiatric emergency program and a 20-bed adolescent inpatient unit, funded by more than $21 million in recent grants. Virtual care has improved appointment adherence and patient outcomes, while on-unit medical care reduces unnecessary transfers. Education is core to the program’s mission, with comprehensive training in psychiatry, psychology and social work supported by active clinical research and competitive fellowship placements.
Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston). Founded in 1934, Massachusetts General Hospital’s department of psychiatry is ranked No. 1 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for psychiatry programs in 2024-25. The department includes more than 60 highly integrated, specialized clinical and research programs encompassing virtually every aspect of psychiatric disorders and mental illness. These include depression, schizophrenia and a host of other disorders such as anxiety, panic, attention deficit, bipolar, obsessive compulsive and post-traumatic stress. Clinical offerings include emergency and urgent care, general and specialty outpatient care for adults, children and adolescents, a 24-bed inpatient unit, psychological and educational assessment services, dedicated psychiatry services for both medical and surgical inpatients and outpatients, an addictions program, a neurotherapeutics service and forensic psychiatry services. Mass General Psychiatry’s research program is the hospital’s largest research area with studies at the forefront of neuroscience, molecular biology and genetics. The department trains 100 adult and child psychiatry residents, psychology interns and clinical fellows at any given time. It also provides educational programs to approximately 40,000 clinical professionals through the Mass General Psychiatry Academy.
McLean Hospital (Belmont, Mass.). A flagship psychiatric service of Mass General Brigham and affiliate of Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital has been a trusted leader in mental health care, research and education for more than 200 years. It offers comprehensive services supporting individuals at every stage of life, from childhood through older adulthood. Its multidisciplinary teams treat a wide range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, personality disorders, schizophrenia and first episode psychosis, eating disorders and substance use disorders. The 492-bed hospital annually sees nearly 7,000 inpatient admissions, 63,000 outpatient visits and more than 20,000 advanced treatments like electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation and ketamine therapy. Renowned programs include The Pavilion, a diagnostic service for adults, and 3East, specializing in compassionate care for adolescents with depression, anxiety, PTSD, self-injury and emerging borderline personality disorder. Recognized as the nation’s top freestanding psychiatric hospital by U.S. News & World Report for more than 20 years, McLean offers robust global professional and public education to share knowledge and improve understanding around mental health. The international award-winning “Deconstructing Stigma” campaign and other efforts are reducing misinformation and stigma to change how people think about mental health and encourage seeking necessary care.
Medical City Healthcare (Dallas). Medical City Healthcare Behavioral Health Services operates 362 inpatient behavioral health beds across North Texas, offering inpatient, outpatient, and telehealth mental health care for adults, adolescents and older adults. In 2024, the system opened the 70-bed Medical City Mental Health & Wellness Center in Frisco, Texas and launched an 88-bed center of the same name and function in Alliance, Texas in early 2025. The centers are designed to provide a therapeutic environment and offer services such as music therapy and electroconvulsive therapy. Medical City Healthcare also leverages the HCA Healthcare Research Institute to conduct community-based clinical research, improving patient outcomes through data-driven insights. Medical City Green Oaks Hospital, the system’s most tenured behavioral health facility, was recognized on its 40th anniversary in 2023 by the Dallas County Commissioners Court for its success and service to Dallas County.
Mercy (St. Louis). Mercy’s mental and behavioral health service line prioritizes restoring emotional stasis to patients who are experiencing challenges like depression, grief and anxiety. Utilizing an evidence-based approach, the care team designs a tailor-made plan for each individual, carefully crafting a treatment plan using options like psychotherapy, medication therapy, and support groups. Advanced treatment options such as electroconvulsive therapy are also available if needed. Mercy takes a full-team, holistic approach to inpatient behavioral health, ensuring that each person’s mental and physical health is cared for in the least restrictive manner possible. Mercy Kids also offers an inpatient behavioral program for children and teens.
Montefiore Health System (Bronx, N.Y.). Montefiore’s department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences sees over 600,000 outpatient visits and 1,000 inpatient admissions annually, making it one of the region’s largest mental health providers. The department stands out for pioneering integrated psychiatric care in pediatric and adult primary care, public schools and numerous specialty clinics, with programs deeply rooted in principles of social justice. In 2023, Montefiore was designated a behavioral health center of excellence by New York State, supported by a $7 million grant to develop emergency observation units, a partial hospitalization program and expanded outpatient services. The department’s interventional psychiatry program ensures equitable access to transcranial magnetic stimulation and esketamine, even for publicly insured patients. The department also innovates with new initiatives like the behavioral health virtual urgent care and the creation of a 21-bed pediatric psychiatric unit, the first of its kind in the Bronx. The department is supported by approximately $8 million in annual research funding, which goes towards translational, clinical and health services research. Montefiore Behavioral Health Center was recognized by the American Psychiatric Association for psychiatric services achievement in 2022 and the system earned behavioral health distinction from the National Committee for Quality Assurance in 2021.
Mount Sinai Health System (New York City). Mount Sinai Health System’s Mount Sinai Behavioral Health Center is a $140 million facility that opened in 2023, addressing New York City’s mental health crisis by integrating mental health, substance use and primary care services in one location. The center, located on the city’s Lower East Side, offers a comprehensive evaluation service that assesses mental health, substance use and physical health needs, resulting in personalized treatment plans. The center’s design, featuring natural light and large patient rooms, has been recognized for reducing stigma and promoting healing. Recent innovations include the launch of the express behavioral health program, which provides immediate walk-in access to care, and the upcoming intensive crisis residence, the first of its kind in New York City. The center also serves as a major training hub, with plans to establish the largest psychiatry residency program in the U.S. in 2024. The program has seen improved patient satisfaction scores and has eliminated restraints and seclusion on its geriatric and young adult inpatient unit.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst (Queens). NYC Health + Hospital/Elmhurst’s behavioral health services and psychiatry department brings comprehensive, equitable mental healthcare through 176 psychiatric beds, representing over 30% of the hospital’s total capacity, and a vast multidisciplinary team of over 500 behavioral health professionals. The department operates mobile outreach to serve homeless populations and has implemented culturally competent care initiatives for refugees, asylum seekers and LGBTQI+ individuals. It houses the only child inpatient psychiatric unit in Queens and offers integrated mental health, medical and substance use disorder services, as well as advanced treatments like electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation. A $5 million grant has fueled expansive suicide prevention programs, while infrastructure upgrades have enhanced safety with ligature-resistant environments. Within the NYC Health + Hospitals system, the hospital is known for unique innovations such as the extended care unit, forensic psychiatric services, and transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression and addiction disorders. The program boasts top-tier patient satisfaction and the highest follow-up care connection rates in the system.
Nebraska Medicine (Omaha). As the state’s largest employer of psychiatrists, Nebraska Medicine’s outpatient psychiatry clinic provides evidence-based treatments for patients with anxiety disorders, pregnant and postpartum women, people with intellectual disabilities, and those with addiction and psychotic disorders. The clinic offers the state’s only intensive outpatient programs for obsessive compulsive disorder and social anxiety disorders. The anxiety clinic utilizes virtual reality for immersive exposure therapy for patients with medically relevant claustrophobia, which helps prepare patients for MRIs, deep brain stimulation surgery and continuous positive airway pressure machines. The “active support for psychosis in recovery” program provides the full spectrum of psychotherapeutic, psychiatric and medical interventions for holistic recovery from psychotic illness and associated physical health problems. The program is among the first in the nation to offer behavioral family therapy in support of families affected by psychosis. It also operates an 18-patient psychiatric emergency services facility for those with acute mental health crises, as well as a consultation clinic for patients with mild to moderate psychiatric complexity. Of the 500 patients seen since the program began in 2023, over 75% are seen within 14 days of appointment scheduled and over 78% returned successfully to primary care. The psychiatry department’s four-year psychiatry residency program offers experience in wellness, psychotherapy and subspecialty clinics.
Newman Memorial Hospital (Shattuck, Okla.). At Newman Memorial Hospital, the senior life solutions department provides a solution to an overlooked and under addressed issue. The department seeks to utilize therapeutic and psychiatric solutions in an outpatient setting for adults over 65. A staff of one psychiatrist, one counselor, one registered nurse program director, and one office/patient coordinator offer much needed care to the underserved older adult population in a rural area. The department helps older adults who are experiencing anxiety and depression or coping with grief. Changes in later life, like loss of a loved one, living condition changes, and caregiver fatigue are all addressed respectfully and compassionately. The facility is a group setting, but patients are also treated on an individual level during therapy sessions, and their treatment plans are furthered by medication education and management and after-care planning.
Northwell Health (New Hyde Park, N.Y.). Northwell Health delivers one of the largest and most comprehensive behavioral health systems in the U.S., with 624 inpatient beds across seven hospitals, more than 600,000 outpatient visits annually, and robust emergency, consult and telepsychiatry coverage across its 23 hospitals. Two dedicated behavioral health hospitals, Zucker Hillside in Queens, N.Y. and South Oaks in Amityville, N.Y., offer specialized inpatient units for adolescents, perinatal women, geriatrics and individuals with treatment-resistant depression, alongside extensive outpatient clinics and day programs. Zucker Hillside Hospital is a leader in schizophrenia research, training and neuromodulation, operating the second-largest electroconvulsive therapy program in the country and a full interventional psychiatry center. Northwell’s research enterprise, including the Institute of Behavioral Science within the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, has secured more than $10 million in annual funding and supports cutting-edge studies in neuromodulation, substance use disorder treatment and the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. The system’s behavioral health outpatient services have been embedded in over 80 primary care sites and school-based programs, reaching over 220,000 students. In 2023, the system announced a $500 million investment in pediatric mental health services, including a new 100-bed integrated children’s pavilion.
OSF HealthCare (Peoria, Ill.). A leader in behavioral and mental health services, OSF HealthCare offers comprehensive support for adults, teens and children seeking diagnosis, short-term treatment or long-term management. The multidisciplinary team provides a full spectrum of care across 18 locations, ranging from outpatient therapy to medication management and addressing conditions such as ADHD, depression, mood disorders, bipolar disorder, anxiety, OCD and psychosis. Services, including behavioral health navigation that connects people to the right type of care, are accessible in outpatient clinics, hospitals, online or virtually. A free app offers mindfulness exercises, journaling and lifestyle tracking for managing depression, anxiety and stress. “OSF Autism Pathways” features a team of navigators that provide support and vital resources for individuals of all ages who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or are pursuing a diagnosis. OSF also provides a variety of behavioral health-related content via blogs and a monthly newsletter. Looking to the future, OSF is collaborating on Meadowview Behavioral Hospital in Peoria, a 64,000-square-foot, $35 million, 100-bed inpatient facility slated to open in late 2025 or early 2026. The hospital will feature a 24/7 crisis center and programs for partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient care.
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (Columbus). The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center provides psychiatric care for the whole person via its department of psychiatry and behavioral health and the Ohio State Harding Hospital. This comprehensive, holistic approach takes into consideration the interconnectivity of mental and physical health. Ohio State provides education and training for staff through its general psychiatry residency program, which explores psychotherapy, medication, imaging, wellness and health promotion. Resources are also provided for those looking to gain expertise in a subspecialty. The department features a robust research program as well, with millions in extramural research funding. Patients with severe depression benefit from Ohio State’s pioneering neurological therapies and technologies, including esketamine, ketamine, electroconvulsive treatment and transcranial magnetic stimulation. Ohio State also offers the Neurological Institute, the Behavioral Health Immediate Care clinic, an adult outpatient program at Ohio State Harding Hospital, the STAR program, which addresses stress, trauma and resilience, and the Early Psychosis Intervention Center, for patients experiencing the onset of psychotic symptoms.
Oswego (N.Y.) Health. Oswego Health’s mental health and wellness unit features specialists who are focused on creating a holistic, wellness-focused ecosystem that nurtures mental health at every level. The program is co-located with the system’s primary care department, allowing for collaboration and innovation between the two. The system offers services ranging from an inpatient psychiatric unit to an outpatient youth services center. Oswego opened a 42,000-square-foot facility, The Lobdell Center for Mental Health & Wellness at Lakeview, thanks to funding from the state health department. The center offers inpatient beds and is the county’s only provider of outpatient and inpatient behavioral health services. Oswego provides millions a year in community investment, bringing care to the uninsured and underinsured.
Penn Medicine (Philadelphia). Penn Medicine Psychiatry is a national leader in behavioral health, delivering cutting-edge, evidence-based care across a wide network of inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization and specialty programs. Anchored by research excellence and consistently ranking among the top 15 psychiatry departments for National Institutes of Health funding, the program’s focus spans from molecular neuropsychiatric mechanisms to neuromodulation. Signature clinical services include the Mood Disorder Treatment Center, Center for Cognitive Therapy and the Intervention Psychiatry Network, with Princeton House Behavioral Health offering acute inpatient and outpatient treatment for a range of conditions including co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders. The internationally recognized Princeton Center for Eating Disorders serves patients as young as eight and integrates patient experience with advanced treatment modalities. Innovative care models, such as the first responder treatment service and integrated programs at Lancaster (Pa.) Behavioral Health Hospital, expand access and customize care across diverse populations. The program is backed by the research and clinical power of the Perelman School of Medicine and an $11.1 billion health system.
Phoenix Children’s. Phoenix Children’s psychiatry division provides critical mental health care through its 23-bed inpatient unit and innovative outpatient services, addressing the pressing needs of Arizona’s youth amid a national provider shortage. Programs such as the Bridge Clinic reduce repeat emergency visits by offering immediate post-discharge care, while the Center for Resiliency and Wellbeing addresses trauma from adverse childhood experiences, serving over 700 families. The hospital’s homeless youth outreach program has facilitated nearly 2,000 appointments in the past year, expanding access to underserved populations. The Comprehensive Assessment for Managing Suicide Clinic and suicide prevention program have led to more than 72,000 screenings, with swift interventions for at-risk youth supported by Amazon Alexa-integrated technology. A robust training infrastructure, including psychiatry fellowships and a faculty learning community, has equipped over 200 community pediatricians to provide frontline mental health care. Phoenix Children’s has been recognized nationally by U.S. News & World Report and certified as a trauma-informed organization.
RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Health (West Orange and Newark, N.J.). RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Health’s Rutgers Health University Behavioral Health Care jointly operate one of the largest and most comprehensive behavioral health networks in the U.S., spanning 506 inpatient beds and hundreds of professionals across multiple disciplines. Their full-spectrum care includes trauma-informed therapy, electroconvulsive therapy, mobile crisis response and school-based services across 250-plus locations, addressing needs from mild distress to acute psychiatric crises. Notable programs include the expanded eating disorders unit at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, N.J. and the Trinitas CARES program, which offers statewide crisis response for individuals with developmental disabilities. These initiatives are supported by a robust training infrastructure, with over 70,000 professionals trained annually through Rutgers’ Behavioral Research and Training Institute. This integrated, statewide approach ensures access, quality and innovation for diverse populations across the care continuum.
Renown Health (Reno, Nev.). In 2018, a $6 million donation by the Stacie Mathewson Foundation funded the creation of the Stacie Mathewson Behavioral Health & Addiction Institute at Renown Health. The institute was formed to address increased prescription drug-related mortality rates and suicide rates in northern Nevada. The department is now fully integrated with University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine’s psychiatry residency, child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship programs, and behavioral sciences and clinical psychiatry medical student training. The curriculum emphasizes the value of psychotherapy, psychopharmacology and interventional psychiatry methods, along with primary care team integration. Innovative public and private partnerships with the state include the “SOAR” early intervention treatment program for those experiencing their first episode of psychosis. A 24-hour community crisis stabilization center is opening for adults with mental health or substance use issues. The “Connect Washoe County” mental health collaborative, part of the hospital’s community benefit program, hosts a youth mental health summit, with several interventions resulting in reduced use of street and prescription drugs, lower hospitalization rates due to opioid overdose, and fewer cases of intentional suicide mortality in youth.
Rochester (N.Y.) Regional Health. Rochester Regional Health operates one of New York’s most expansive behavioral health systems, delivering care through 176 inpatient beds, six acute crisis programs and over 370,000 outpatient visits each year. The network spans 55 school-based clinics, adult and adolescent mental health centers, and specialized crisis services including the state’s first behavioral health urgent care. Recent innovations include walk-in access, mobile crisis interventions with law enforcement, and home-based therapy programs that have helped 93% of youth avoid hospitalization. The system is deeply committed to anti-racist care, Indigenous psychotherapy and culturally competent treatment, partnering with BIPOC-led organizations and supporting workforce development across the region. The department boasts a $5 million annual grant portfolio and an 8% readmission rate, compared to 15.6% statewide.
Sanford Health (Fargo, N.D.). Sanford Fargo Behavioral Health provides a comprehensive range of inpatient and outpatient services, bolstered by integrated screenings across clinics and the strategic placement of therapists within primary care. With 28 inpatient beds and a multidisciplinary team, the department has embedded real-time mental health response in emergency departments, utilizing virtual psychiatric consults to reduce wait times and improve outcomes. Training future professionals is a priority, with psychiatry, psychology and therapy students gaining practical experience through rotations and internships. Community outreach is central, as seen in its collaboration with nonprofit FirstLink and leadership in suicide awareness efforts such as the “Out of the Darkness Walk”. The Behavioral Health Bridge platform, developed during the Covid-19 pandemic, continues to serve as a critical educational resource across the region. The program also offers new grant-funded initiatives like a substance use clinic and research on rural mental health and trauma care.
Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital (San Diego). Sharp Mesa Visa Hospital, San Diego’s largest private behavioral health provider, has served the region for over 60 years, treating more than 200,000 people with mental illness and substance use disorders. The hospital provides critical crisis psychiatric evaluations, assessing over 3,200 patients annually in county emergency rooms, and manages more than 72,000 outpatient visits each year. Sharp Mesa Vista offers specialized inpatient and outpatient care for children, adolescents, young adults, adults and seniors, with a recovery-focused treatment model that emphasizes hope, empowerment and self-responsibility. The hospital also operates the Sharp Neurocognitive Research Center, which has conducted over 300 clinical trials, contributing to advancements in neurocognitive treatments. In recent years, Sharp Mesa Vista modernized its Shiley Intensive Care Unit, designed to treat patients with co-occurring physical and mental illnesses, further enhancing patient care and interdisciplinary collaboration. This facility plays a crucial role in promoting healing for patients with complex needs, serving nearly 1,000 individuals annually.
Sheppard Pratt (Baltimore). Sheppard Pratt is a private, nonprofit provider of mental health, substance use, special education, developmental disability and social services. Almost 80,000 patients across over 160 Maryland-based programs benefit from their services, as well as from their partnerships with hospitals and health systems across the nation. Both outpatient and inpatient treatment is offered, spanning rehabilitation, housing, education, job training services and more. Sheppard Pratt offers a broad spectrum of care for youth, with inpatient child and adolescent beds, special education schools, partial hospital programs, school-based programs in public schools, support groups, and dedicated programs catered to those with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders and autism. Recent accomplishments include opening a comprehensive behavioral health hospital in 2021, launching a consultation division in 2022, and opening the Institute for Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics for treatment and research in 2022.
Sutter Health (Sacramento, Calif.). Sutter Health’s Sutter Center for Psychiatry stands as one of the Sacramento region’s few full-service psychiatric hospitals, with 73 licensed beds and a diverse range of subspecialty programs including adolescent, adult and high acuity psychiatry. The center is notable for integrating cutting-edge treatments like accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation and ketamine-electroconvulsive therapy combinations. Patient throughput and quality metrics have dramatically improved with initiatives like the discharge lounge and a 57% reduction in adolescent self-injurious behavior. A $1 million innovation grant, $3 million in philanthropic support, and robust safety and training protocols further enhance care delivery. The program boasts nearly 10,000 staff training hours in trauma-informed care and dialectical behavior therapy, accompanied by high scores in staff engagement and inclusion.
Texas Children’s Hospital (Houston). Texas Children’s Hospital’s pediatric psychiatry department offers a comprehensive, multi-site behavioral health model that includes emergency, outpatient, bridge and intensive outpatient care, plus a partnership with the Houston-based Menninger Clinic for inpatient services. With 27 child and adolescent psychiatrists, services across four campuses and a telehealth service, the system ensures that children receive timely, continuous psychiatric care from first contact through follow-up. Innovations like the addition of a nocturnist psychiatrist for overnight virtual care and embedded behavioral health providers in pediatrics enhance responsiveness and integration. The intensive outpatient programs serve as a vital step-down alternative to hospitalization, supporting over 5,000 emergency center visits in 2023, up 700% from 2018. Specialized clinics for bipolar disorder, anxiety, autism and foster care extend the reach and precision of care. The psychiatry division is backed by $2.7 million in research grants.
UAB Medicine (Birmingham, Ala.). UAB Medicine’s flagship, UAB Hospital, features The Center for Psychiatric Medicine, leveraging its 108-bed capacity and interdisciplinary approach to serve a broad patient population, from voluntary admissions to court-committed individuals. Each inpatient unit is specialized by diagnosis or acuity, allowing for personalized care and inclusion in clinical research like pharmacogenomic testing to optimize psychiatric medications. Quality improvement efforts have yielded tangible results, including a 42.5% reduction in as-needed medication use following the implementation of the “Birmingham Agitation Management” protocol. Technological innovations such as wearable patient monitors have improved safety and compliance with rounding protocols. In addition, the center addresses systemic issues with projects targeting implicit bias and loneliness in geriatric patients via robotic companions. The center boasts over $23 million in research funding and focuses on personalized, evidence-based treatment.
UPMC (Pittsburgh). The University of Pittsburgh’s psychiatry department, as well as UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, aim to care for all patients while creating and improving upon treatment methods. The department, known for its academic and clinical excellence, is focused on scientific discovery that will benefit patients and community members. UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital established itself as a leader in mental health care, research and education over 70 years ago. It features community-based programs, as well as inpatient and outpatient programs for children and adults. Thanks to affiliation with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital and the psychiatry department continually earn high rankings in psychiatric research funding from the National Institutes of Health.
UC Davis Health (Sacramento, Calif.). Known for its financial success and significant research contributions, the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at UC Davis Health is a leader in the field. The department is notable for being financially self-sustaining, which allows it to support research gaps, educational initiatives and pilot programs that enhance patient care. With more than $19 million in National Institutes of Health research funding in 2023, it ranks No. 17 nationally in psychiatric research, contributing to advancements in areas such as early psychosis, neurodevelopmental disorders and telepsychiatry. UC Davis also boasts one of the most inclusive psychiatry residencies in the U.S., with nearly 80% of its most recent intern class from underrepresented minority backgrounds. Innovations like the Advanced Psychiatric Therapeutics Clinic, which launched in April 2024, and the “Digital SAFE-T” program, serving formerly incarcerated individuals, offer cutting-edge treatments and addressing underserved populations. The program was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 15 best programs in psychiatry for 2022-23.
UnityPoint Health (West Des Moines, Iowa). UnityPoint Health employs a team of dedicated mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, behavioral health therapists, social workers, psychiatrist nurses and substance-use disorder specialists. Additionally, the system offers five mental health centers. UnityPoint Clinic offers psychiatry services that treat patients via medication, psychotherapy or a combination of the two. Psychotherapy offerings include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, interpersonal therapy and pet therapy, all of which can be completed individually or in a family or group setting. The psychiatry clinic treats a variety of disorders, including but not limited to depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder.
University of Chicago Medicine. The psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience department at UChicago Medicine provides an extensive range of outpatient and inpatient mental health services, including targeted therapy groups for complex issues like chronic illness and grief. Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Ill. serves as the health system’s main site for inpatient psychiatric care and recently expanded with a $840,000 investment to meet rising community demand. UChicago Medicine also prioritizes psychiatric education through residency and accredited fellowship programs, ensuring the next generation of psychiatric professionals are well-trained. Notable partnerships include its collaboration with National Alliance on Mental Illness and public schools. In addition, their “Courage to Quit” program has supported over 1,000 participants in smoking cessation since 2016. UChicago Medicine’s pediatric and adolescent behavioral health services are nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
University of Maryland Medical System (Baltimore). University of Maryland Medical System is a university-based health system that includes the University of Maryland Medical Center, whose psychiatry department features inpatient beds and experts in child, adolescent, geriatric, addiction, reproduction and consultation-liaison psychiatry. This program provides a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient services via psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists and clinical nurse specialists. UMMC formed an Advanced Depression Treatment Center for those with difficult-to-treat depression, utilizing a consultative model to achieve highly-personalized, individualized treatment plans that offer psychiatric pharmacology and other advanced options. UMMC is also expanding several of its existing psychiatric programs to meet community needs, including women’s mental health, school-based mental health, and first-episode psychosis programs. Another sector of UMMS is UM Upper Chesapeake Health, which operates the Klein Family Center as its behavioral health hub. It features a mobile crisis team, urgent care walk-in center, outpatient services and a residential crisis bed unit. UM Upper Chesapeake Health also opened its $80 million Behavioral Health Pavilion in early 2024.
University of Michigan Health (Ann Arbor). Psychiatric care at University of Michigan Health includes advanced interventions for adults with complex mental health needs, and patient participation in research studies that move knowledge and care forward. Comprehensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, psychiatric emergency and inpatient services are available to adults with treatment-resistant depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, psychosis and schizophrenia, substance use disorders, perinatal mood disorders, neuropsychological testing needs and geriatric-specific mental health needs. The Neuromodulation Program is one of the nation’s foremost providers of electroconvulsive therapy, offers transcranial magnetic stimulation and ketamine therapy, and studies new options to modulate brain activity. The system’s addiction treatment service offers standard and intensive outpatient care for substance use disorders from adolescence to late adulthood, including specialized recovery programs for health professionals. U-M psychiatrists offer advanced mental health care for veterans with PTSD and substance use disorder care at VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. The psychiatrists, along with other mental health providers, also offer a range of consultation services for health care providers and educators statewide to support delivery of evidence-based care across the age spectrum and to increase use of medication-assisted therapy for opioid use disorder. Through partnerships with county and state health departments, U-M Health supports mental health needs of the most vulnerable.
University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center. University of Rochester Medical Center’s psychiatry department, home to 250 providers and soon-to-be 93 psychiatric beds, is distinguished as the originator of the biopsychosocial model and one of the largest academic psychiatry programs in the country. Serving nearly 500,000 patient encounters annually, the department integrates behavioral health across primary care, oncology and cardiology. It offers a comprehensive spectrum of care, including mobile crisis units, pediatric behavioral health urgent care and partial hospitalization services. The new Brighter Days Pediatric Mental Health Urgent Care Center, launched in 2024, is a unique walk-in clinic for youth in crisis, aiming to reduce emergency room utilization. Research efforts exceed $30 million in funding, supporting innovative approaches in assessment, crisis intervention and family-centered support.
Valleywise Health (Phoenix). There are more than 350 inpatient beds across three psychiatric facilities at the Valleywise Health Behavioral Health Department, a leading provider of psychiatric care in the region. The department is the only provider in the region for court-ordered evaluations of individuals with severe mental illnesses, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Valleywise Health also offers outpatient programs, including two first episode centers and an assertive community treatment program to help individuals with serious mental health conditions. In 2024, Valleywise expanded with two new behavioral health clinics in Maryvale and Mesa, Ariz., each designed to serve up to 700 individuals and support patients transitioning from inpatient care. The health system also began a forensic assertive community treatment program at the Maryvale hospital, helping patients with serious mental illnesses transition from the criminal justice system back into the community. Valleywise Health’s grants department actively manages three federal awards related to behavioral health, totaling over $1.5 million.
Virtua Health (Marlton, N.J.). Virtua Health delivers a robust spectrum of behavioral health services across South Jersey, anchored by 70 inpatient beds and supported by a team of over 60 certified behavioral health professionals. The system has made mental healthcare more accessible by embedding licensed clinical social workers in 28 primary care sites and launching digital tools like Woebot to aid emotional wellbeing. Notably, the “Children Achieving Success Through Therapeutic Life Experiences” program has offered tailored outpatient services for children and adolescents with mental health diagnoses for over 20 years, with an expansion planned for 2025. The system also treats substance use disorders with an integrated medication-assisted treatment program and offers advanced interventional psychiatry options including electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation and soon ketamine therapy. The perinatal mood and anxiety disorder program is the first standalone facility in South Jersey dedicated to maternal mental health, launched in response to high demand. The system was recognized by NJBIZ as a “Health Care Hero” for workplace wellness for 2024.
WMCHealth (Valhalla, N.Y.). WMCHealth offers over 200 psychiatric and chemical dependency beds across five hospitals and multiple outpatient settings. In 2023, the system managed nearly 40% of the region’s inpatient psychiatric discharges, which accounts for double the volume of its nearest competitor. Major gains include a 30% increase in continuity from detox to rehabilitation and significant reductions in emergency department turnaround times and mechanical restraint use. WMCHealth’s comprehensive, evolving care model incorporates programs addressing autism spectrum disorders and new treatments like electroconvulsive therapy and ketamine therapy. Recent renovations, like the $7 million upgrade at HealthAlliance Hospital, enhance patient experience through redesigned therapeutic environments. Backed by over $5 million in recent grants, WMCHealth is expanding its reach and clinical impact across both mental health and substance use domains.
WellSpan Health (York, Pa.). WellSpan Health delivers behavioral health services through 54 programs and 24 locations, making it central Pennsylvania’s most comprehensive behavioral health provider and serving over 64,000 patients annually. The health system has invested over $30 million since 2022 to expand mobile crisis units, telehealth, the certified community behavioral health clinic START, and collaborations with Concert Health to embed behavioral health in primary care. START alone has diverted over 7,500 emergency visits since 2021, heavily impacting system efficiency and patient outcomes. In 2024, WellSpan opened a redesigned behavioral health unit at York Hospital, supported by a historic $2.4 million donation, with 56 beds and a patient-centered design for recovery. Over 60% of behavioral health visits are now conducted virtually, and the embedded emergency room model accelerates intervention.
