Ingalls Offers Mental Health Services For Children

(April, 2010) Ingalls Behavioral Health Services has launched a new Adolescent Behavioral Health Program that serves children ages 12 – 18. Managed by Synergy Behavioral Healthcare, the program features both inpatient and outpatient services and includes a 20-bed unit housed in the Wyman-Gordon Pavilion (located on the campus of Ingalls Memorial Hospital, Harvey).

As the only youth-oriented program of its kind in the south suburban area, the Adolescent Behavioral Health Program is committed to providing high quality therapeutic treatment for its patients and their families. Partnering with organizations throughout the community, the Behavioral Health Program strives to help build awareness of the signs, symptoms and risk factors associated with behavioral health issues in adolescents.

For many years, Ingalls has primarily provided high quality behavioral services to the adult and geriatric populations; however, today that same level of service and care has been tailored to meet the growing needs of children and their families—reducing their travel outside of the community in search of facilities with similar services.

Ingalls’ Adolescent Behavioral Health Program includes the following:
Adolescent Group Therapy
As its name suggests, this after school outpatient program offers group therapy topics that include: life skills, anger management, coping skills, self-esteem building, stress management, and social skills training. This program is ideal for families whose children require behavioral health services, but not on an inpatient basis. This group therapy session also bridges the gap between an at-risk child’s unsupervised hours after school, when he or she can be most vulnerable.

Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitalization
This safe, structured, and therapeutic inpatient environment offers the perfect setting to help patients identify: counterproductive behaviors, current stressors, on-going issues, strengths, and supports. Patients will participate in groups that include skills training, school, coping skills, anger management, verbal processing, expressive therapy (art, dance) and recreational therapy. Medication management, individual therapy and family
therapies are also provided.

To access these services, call the Assessment and Referral staff, which is available 24/7, at 1.708.915.6411. The staff will conduct a “no-cost” assessment to determine your child’s needs and then make a referral to address them.

We have agreements with various private insurance and managed care companies. Medicare and Medicaid are also accepted.

“Following a confidential assessment by our staff, we will provide each person individual recommendations to best meet their behavioral health needs,” explains Jeff Bergren, executive director for Ingalls Behavioral Health Services and owner of Synergy Behavioral Healthcare. “During the assessment, we ask questions that help us determine what’s going on with that particular individual. We then collaborate with a psychiatrist before making recommendations as to the type of service that would be beneficial to the child.” The recommendation, he said, could include, among other things, to be seen by a therapist, participation in group therapy, attending a day program, or in the most severe cases, hospitalization.

Research estimates that millions of adolescents suffer from major mental illness that results in significant impairments at home, at school and with peers. Bergren has worked in the behavioral health industry for more than 20 years, and is an expert in the field. He says there are some simple signs and symptoms to look for if you think your child is having problems.

“Some of the most telling signs,” explains Bergren, “is a change in your child’s behavior. He or she may all of a sudden lose interest in activities that used to bring them joy. They may even give away items that once held sentimental value to them.” Plummeting grades could also indicate that something is going on with the child, especially if he or she usually performs well in school.

If you feel your child would benefit from a free assessment to determine if he or she is dealing with behavioral issues, contact the Assessment and Referral staff at 1.708.915.6411 for a confidential consultation.

Ingalls Adolescent Behavioral Health Services collaborates with schools, social service agencies, parents, and care givers to ensure all patients receive a range of treatment options including follow-up services. In addition to its youth-oriented programs, Ingalls offers Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitalization Programs for Adults and Older-Adults. Both programs provide 24-hour monitoring and treatment by a multidisciplinary team. A Day Treatment Program for Adults is also available 5 days per week. All of the services provided at Ingalls are completely confidential.

In January 2010, Ingalls Memorial Hospital entered into a management agreement with Synergy Behavioral Healthcare to manage its Behavioral Health service line.

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