Behavioral health refers to the connection between behavior and mental, emotional, and physical well-being. As a medical specialty, behavioral health includes the prevention and treatment of anxiety, depression, mood and personality disorders, substance use disorders (SUD), and other mental health challenges.
The board-certified physicians, nurse practitioners, and care team at NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health provide comprehensive diagnosis and care for patients struggling with behavioral health and mental illness, including challenges that may be temporary and those that may be long-term.
Mental health symptoms include sustained worry or fear, feeling sad or down, avoiding friends or social activities, overwhelming anger, inability to cope with day-to-day activities and related stress, significant tiredness, low energy, and change in sleeping or eating habits.
Our behavioral health center provides both inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs, including:
- Psychiatric Emergency Service: Psychiatric emergency service includes the assessment, intervention, treatment, and referral services for mental health crises. We evaluate and treat patients experiencing psychiatric crises, including suicidal or aggressive behavior. We also arrange appropriate inpatient or outpatient treatment for adults, children, and adolescents. Patients are referred for psychiatric emergency services through emergency medical services. This includes patients who call 911 and those who walk in for service at the emergency department.
- Psychiatric Inpatient Units: We provide comprehensive psychiatric and medical assessments and treatment for adult patients with psychiatric and co-morbid substance use disorder diagnoses, with 60 inpatient beds available. Our goal is to stabilize and reduce acute symptoms and facilitate patients’ safe return to their community. In addition to medication, treatment includes creative arts therapy, as well as individual, family, and group therapy. Patients are treated in a milieu setting that promotes healing in a more comfortable setting than a traditional medical facility. We develop aftercare plans for each patient and referrals to outpatient psychiatric and medical treatment.
- Consultation/Liaison Service: We provide psychiatric consultation, treatment, and referral services for clients in various inpatient medical–surgical units, including labor and delivery.
- Outpatient Services: We provide outpatient services for children, adolescents, and adults presenting with symptoms of psychiatric and co-morbid substance use disorders. This includes multidisciplinary assessments, medication management, and individual, group, and family therapy. In addition, on-site crisis intervention services and walk-in evaluations are also available.
- Assertive Community Treatment: Two multidisciplinary teams provide comprehensive in-home and in-community treatment for high-risk patients diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illnesses who have a history of limited adherence to traditional clinic-based services. Providers conduct psychiatric assessments, medication management, and individual, group, family, and substance use therapy services. In addition, the teams share resources related to financial and other supports that increase patients’ ability to function in the community and decrease the likelihood of rehospitalization.
- Medically Supervised Outpatient Program: At our Ida G. Israel location, we provide outpatient treatment to patients with primary substance use disorders. Patients receive comprehensive multidisciplinary assessments, medication management, and individual, group, and family therapy. We also provide medication-assisted (e.g., buprenorphine and naltrexone) and withdrawal treatment to patients with co-occurring psychiatric disorders. With a focus on harm reduction, the clinic conducts community outreach and education to reduce accidental overdose fatalities, including distributing naloxone overdose prevention kits.
- Med–Psych Clinic: In collaboration with the Department of Medicine, the Department of Behavioral Health operates a primary care service for patients enrolled in a behavioral health program to facilitate a coordinated approach to their care.
- Collaborative Care for Depression: Primary care providers help patients access mental health services for depression.
Behavioral health challenges, including mental, emotional, and physical needs can be overwhelming and confusing. Allow our team of expert physicians at one of the leading New York hospitals for mental health, focused on equity and outstanding services, to provide you with the best care possible.
For more information about behavioral health services or to schedule an appointment, please 1-844-692-4692.