As the demand for mental health support among children rises, facilities in the north country, including Samaritan Medical Center (SMC) and Claxton-Hepburn’s Elizabeth May Duvall Children & Behavioral Health Unit, are expanding to meet the increasing need for assistance.
Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown is undergoing significant expansion, converting its former coffee and gift shop into four secure rooms to accommodate individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, whether they be adults or children. The behavioral health unit at Samaritan has expanded from five beds with two overflow beds to 12, recognizing the need for increased capacity to serve children and adults in crisis situations.
Leslie DiStefano, SMC spokesperson, highlights the need for more space, especially for children who often stay in these rooms until suitable long-term facilities can be found. The emergency department at Samaritan saw 841 children for mental health crises between December 2022 and December 2023, with 275 requiring transfer to inpatient facilities.
Claxton-Hepburn’s Elizabeth May Duvall Children & Behavioral Health Unit in Ogdensburg, which opened in April 2022, has been a crucial resource for the community. CEO Rich Duvall notes that out of the 1,344 children and teens treated from January 1, 2022, to the present, only 32 required transfer to other facilities in 2023, indicating the positive impact of the facility in addressing mental health needs.
Citizen Advocates, another option for children and teens dealing with mental health issues, operates a behavioral health urgent care facility in Watertown. Natasha Howell, Associate Director of Citizen Advocates, explains that they provide designated rooms for youth who may not meet inpatient requirements but still need a safe environment.
As the demand continues to grow, Claxton-Hepburn aims to expand its children’s unit from 12 inpatient beds to 22, acknowledging the importance of catering to the mental health needs of the community’s youth. These expansions signify a collective effort to ensure that children facing mental health crises have access to the appropriate and timely care they require.
