Mental health is a critical part of overall
health and wellness. It’s important to
know that mental illness can affect any
one; a family member, a friend or even a
coworker. Be sure to make healthy choices
for both your physical and mental well-being and ask
for help when needed.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, one in five people in the U.S. has a diagnosable,
and treatable, mental health condition. Further, statistics from the
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) suggest there are millions of
Americans who are experiencing emotional pain, depression or anxiety
and who are not seeking or receiving treatment.
CalvertHealth provides behavioral health services through its
primary care network, inpatient hospitalization, and the Partial
Hospitalization Program (PHP) which is an intense, structured day
treatment setting.
Expanding Behavioral Health Care in Calvert
This year, CalvertHealth Medical
Center (CHMC) will begin renovating
its Behavioral Health Unit to meet
the growing needs of its adult and
adolescent residents as well as those
in surrounding counties.
“As the sole provider of inpatient
behavioral health services in Calvert
County, updating the patient areas
and services we offer will allow
us to meet the growing need for
emergency and short-term mental
health care,” said Jennifer L.
Messix, BSN, RN-BC, the unit’s new
director.
The 12-month renovation is
anticipated to cost more than
$5 million and is partially funded
through an award of a $1.7 bond
grant through the state of Maryland
under the Maryland Hospital
Association’s bond project
program– the largest grant ever
awarded to an individual organization.
CalvertHealth will match those
funds with a portion being raised by
philanthropy.
The project will reconfigure the
existing Behavioral Health floor into
two wings: one for adolescents 13-17
years old and one for adults. Both
wings will have inpatient rooms,
dining and social areas, consultation
rooms, staff facilities and areas for
outpatient use.
What is Behavioral Health?
Behavioral health addresses mental health issues including depression
and anxiety. The Behavioral Health Team at CHMC is prepared to manage
a wide variety of conditions.
In 2016, the CHMC emergency department saw 1,386 mental health
cases. In 2018, that number was 1,565 and is expected to continue to
rise due to factors such as life stressors, substance abuse and bullying,
said Messix.
When someone with a behavioral health emergency is taken to the
ER in crisis, he or she is evaluated by a physician and by a member of
emergency psychiatric services, which is comprised of licensed social
workers/counselors, before being admitted for inpatient care, partial
hospitalization or discharged with a follow-up plan in place.
Inpatient to Partial Hospital Program (PHP) Care
“The goal, with an individual in crisis is to stabilize the patient through
inpatient care first and then immediately follow up with CHMC’s Partial
Hospital Program or other outpatient treatment options,” said Messix.
The PHP program is an intense, structured day program where a
team of nurses, social workers, mental health professionals, counselors
and a psychiatrist are able to make individualized treatment plans,
adjust medications and guide one-on-one and group therapy sessions,
including family meetings. The PHP program operates from 8:30 a.m.-
3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The CHMC Behavioral Health team
collaborates on the care for each patient during their stay and prior to
discharge to ensure the patient is working to meet his or her goals.
“I am very proud of the compassionate care that our Behavioral
Health and Emergency Psychiatric Services teams provide our
patients,” said Messix.