Sponsored Content
Working to Address the Youth Mental Health Crisis
At Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, we are dedicated to helping families recognize when their child or teen needs professional help.
There are 4.5 million children and teens diagnosed with anxiety and another 2.7 million who are diagnosed with depression in the United States. Nearly 16% of children and teens surveyed reported having at least one major depressive episode in the past year. More than 6% of youth surveyed reported having a substance use disorder and of those, 2.85% reported using alcohol, and 4.85% reported using illicit drugs.
What can we do to help our kids? At Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, we are dedicated to helping families recognize when their child or teen needs professional help. Our highly trained compassionate staff help parents communicate better with their children to get to the root of their issues and develop a treatment plan that is right for them.
In response to the overwhelming need for mental health services for at-risk teens aged 13 to 17, the Medical Center created the Hope & Resiliency Center for Youth. The Center offers a more structured level of intervention along with a broad range of treatment services to meet the needs of teens and their families. This treatment setting allows adolescents to continue to attend their schools during the day and return to their homes in the evening while still receiving a high level of treatment, structure, and support.
For teens with substance use disorders, Teen T.H.R.I.V.E. offers an opportunity to focus on their recovery with their peers. To increase awareness of addiction as a family disease, the Medical Center includes families and collaborates with them to help discourage future substance use and dependency by the teen.
Eating disorders and body image issues have also been on the rise. The Bergen New Bridge Center for Eating Disorders & Body Positivity offers older teens individualized care in a warm, supportive atmosphere. The treatment focus is on the individual’s well-being, developing a positive body image, and understanding how to have a healthy relationship with food and nutrition. For younger teens, a body positivity program is offered by the Hope & Resiliency Center for Hope.
There are many other options for treatment and support including outpatient groups, individual therapy, family therapy, telehealth sessions, and more. The most important thing is to reach out for help if you believe your child is struggling or in crisis. Bergen New Bridge is dedicated to reducing the stigma around mental health and is continually seeking ways to eliminate any barriers to accessing care.
Call the Medical Center’s Access Center at 800.730.2762. to schedule an evaluation for outpatient care. For children and teens experiencing a mental health crisis, care is available 24 hours a day in the Emergency Department. Visit https://www.newbridgehealth.org/health-services/adolescent-services/ for more information.
Darian Eletto, Chief Clinical Officer for Behavioral Health Services
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
