Psychiatric Care

Read more about Psychiatric Care

Psychiatric Care

Your mental health can be affected in many ways by many factors.

Call us for outpatient inquiries Call us for inpatient inquiries

And just like most medical conditions, sometimes you need the help of professionals to guide and support you on the road to recovery.

Genesis HealthCare System is here with a highly trained and compassionate team of psychiatrists, psychologists, certified counselors, therapists, social workers, nurses and support staff to guide and support you down the path to recovery.

Inpatient and outpatient programs are offered, with programs for children/adolescents and adults.

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care is provided for adults and youth at Genesis Behavioral Health in three different settings. A team of physicians, nurses, social workers and therapists supervises each patient's (adult or adolescent) treatment plan.

A private, secure unit for adults
A closed unit for intensive psychiatric treatment
A pediatric/adolescent unit

To promote a healthier environment, the psychiatric unit is smoke-free. Smoking cessation options and counseling are available.

Visitors are welcome from:

Weekdays: 7 p.m to 8:30 p.m.
Weekends & Holidays: 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Outpatient Programs

You may not need inpatient treatment, and Genesis has an Outpatient Behavioral Health program that can help you. Services are based on individual needs and include:

Group therapy
Stress management
Wellness education
Social service support

Outpatient psychiatric care is provided in a short-term, supportive environment that may involve an intensive outpatient program. The program bridges the gap between hospital treatment and returning to the community. In many situations the need for a hospital admission is avoided or the length of a hospital stay is decreased by participating in the program.

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Psychiatry

Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

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Psychiatric Care

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Kids and Depression: Why It's Real and How to Ease Their Pain

Read more about Kids and Depression: Why It's Real and How to Ease Their Pain

Kids and Depression: Why It's Real and How to Ease Their Pain

For Outpatient Inquires Call (740) 454-5927

Get Answers to Overcome a Serious Childhood Mental Health Illness

Childhood is often synonymous with being carefree, but for children living with depression each day can be increasingly difficult. While becoming more common, depression in children and adolescents is frequently overlooked and easily missed - leading to serious mental health issues, including an increased risk of suicide.

Fortunately, timely recognition and treatment can be life-changing for children and adolescents struggling with depression, according to Howard A. Beazel, Psy.D., Genesis Behavioral Health. "It certainly can be harder to diagnose depression in children," he states.

To help understand the reality of childhood depression, Dr. Beazel offers answers and hope for the serious, but treatable, illness.

First, what is depression?

Depression affects the way one feels, thinks and acts. A mental illness marked by persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities, feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, depression can also lead to thoughts of suicide.

Can children have depression?

Yes, but children don't always get the classic symptoms of sadness, decrease in mood and lack of energy most people think of when they think of depression, explains Dr. Beazel.

In fact, children may frequently show more irritability and become more overactive and/or complain more of somatic or physical symptoms,” he says. “While adults can tell you they feel depressed, children often don’t.”

Although it's normal for children to experience the normal “blues” and everyday emotions as they develop, ongoing symptoms that interfere with social activities, interests, schoolwork, and family life may signal a child has depression. Studies report the mental health of teens and young adults in the U.S. has considerably declined, with rates of depression among kids ages 14 to 17 increased by more than 60% between 2009 and 2017.

How can I tell if my child is depressed and how is it diagnosed?

Just like every child is different, so are the symptoms that may show they are depressed. Although some children may continue to function with depression, others suffer a noticeable change in behavior. Some children may also begin using drugs or alcohol, especially if they are over age 12.

Signs a child may be depressed include:

Increased sensitivity to rejection
Changes in appetite — either increased or decreased
Changes in sleep — lack of or excessive sleep
Vocal outbursts or crying
Difficulty concentrating
Fatigue and low energy
Physical complaints (including stomachaches, headaches) that can’t be treated
Reduced ability to function during events and activities at home or with friends, in school, extracurricular activities, and in other hobbies or interests
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Impaired thinking or concentration

While there are no specific tests — medical or psychological — that can clearly diagnose depression in children, there are tools including questionnaires for both the child and parents that can be helpful. Therapy sessions combined with questionnaires can often uncover other concerns that may contribute to depression, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

“Because children often won’t tell you or anyone else how they’re feeling, we almost always try to talk with their parents to help diagnose depression,” says Dr. Beazel. “What the parents see, such as appetite or sleep changes, changes in level of activity or ability, or change in mood is paramount for us to best evaluate a child.”

Does depression cause children to consider suicide?

Thoughts of killing oneself can accompany depression — even in children, according to Dr. Beazel. “Although relatively rare in children under 12, young children do attempt suicide.”

Suicidal thoughts, also known as suicidal ideation, may not always be obvious to others, even the child’s parents. In fact, teen and adolescent suicides have continued to rise dramatically in recent years. According to a recent study in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, among young people, rates of suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts increased significantly — and in some cases doubled — between 2008 and 2017.

Signs of suicidal thoughts may be apparent in the child’s social behaviors, what they watch on television, the websites they visit, and through journal entries or on their homework. “In the majority of cases where a child is admitted for inpatient treatment of depression, they have made some comment or gesture that makes people concerned they may hurt themselves,” states Dr. Beazel.

Which children get depressed?

While depression is significantly more common in boys under age 10, girls have a greater incidence of depression by age 16. During adolescence, young women are almost twice as likely to be depressed as young men — and these women continue to have a higher likelihood of depression in their adult years.

“It appears adolescent females tend to have depression complaints more frequently, with some theorizing that this difference may be related to hormonal changes,” says Dr. Beazel. “There are also often more social demands and expectations on females in terms of behavior and conforming, which can contribute to additional stresses for females.”

What are the treatment options for children with depression?

Treatment options for children with depression are similar to those used for adults, including psychotherapy (counseling) and medication. Your child’s doctor may suggest either medications or psychotherapy first, but research has shown the best treatment for those with a true depressive disorder is the combination of medication and therapy, according to Dr. Beazel.

“Some people may have concerns about using medications due to possible side-effects and these concerns should be discussed with the medical provider, but again, research indicates the best outcome for seriously depressed individuals tends to be from using therapy/counseling and antidepressant medication together,” he states.

Oftentimes medications tend to have a more rapid effect, and psychotherapeutic efforts may enable the patient to recognize and cope with problems more effectively. “One major concern is many kids who’ve been depressed, are facing depression or have been diagnosed with depression are at a greater risk of being diagnosed with depression again later,” Dr. Beazel explains.

Clearly if a seriously depressed youth is considered to be at risk for hurting themselves, medical intervention may be critical, and inpatient treatment is usually undertaken, explains Dr. Beazel.

“Youth that are hospitalized for depression and/or suicidal concerns generally receive both psychotropic medication as well as various forms of psychotherapeutic interventions, such as group therapies,” he states. “Psychotherapy can teach kids to recognize and cope with problems and situations that may have been difficult before — as well as responding more effectively to new challenges.”