HBM Welcomes New Staff

Please join us in welcoming our new staff!!! We are thrilled to have their experience and skills on our team. #HBM #mentalhealthawareness #welcome

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Deborah Saper Named Chief Executive Officer

Worcester, MA, April 16, 2021 – The Hospital for Behavioral Medicine is proud to announce Deborah Saper, LMFT, has been named its new Chief Executive Officer. Deborah is a dynamic healthcare executive with a proven history of leading facilities in effective clinical practices and developing a universal continuum of care approach for patients. Using evidence-based programming and evaluation methodology, Ms. Saper focuses on excellent outcomes for patients.

Ms. Saper brings experience in operating large forensic hospitals with vulnerable, marginalized, and mentally challenged populations in both secure and unsecured facilities. She is highly skilled in using data to identify strategic goals, create key performance indicators, and cultivate best-in-class clinical programs and initiatives. She also has experience in social justice and trauma-informed approaches to recovery, staff resiliency and self-care, organizational leadership and development, patient and family-centered care, facility administration, and finance and operations.

Saper is pursuing her Ph.D. in Global Inclusion and Social Development from the University of Massachusetts in Boston, Massachusetts. She holds a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hahnemann University (Drexel) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey.

The Hospital for Behavioral Medicine (HBM) offers family-inclusive and person-centered innovative inpatient services for children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. HBM also provides a very active outpatient partial hospitalization program (PHP) and an intensive outpatient program (IOP) for adults. HBM uses multidisciplinary, evidence-based treatment approaches provided by a highly qualified team that includes psychiatrists, nurses, pharmacists, occupational therapists, dietitians, and licensed mental health professionals. Inpatient services focus on crisis stabilization, medication management, group treatment, and discharge/transition planning.

Contact:
Katherine C. Bray, M.S.
Director of Business Development
Hospital for Behavioral Medicine
(508) 564-0308

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76% of HBM Employees Vaccinated!

The Hospital for Behavioral Medicine is proud to share that 76% of our employees have been vaccinated! #HBM #76% #mentalhealthawareness #ourstaffareamazing

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Scared and anxious about returning to offices, restaurants, and other public places?

Great interview on NPR with Samuel Nordberg about anxiety and returning to work and school.

Click Here to Read the Article

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How to Recognize and Address Seasonal Depression

Are you impacted by seasonal depression? This article offers a few recommendations on how to best manage your symptoms.

The Hospital for Behavioral Medicine has availability in our inpatient units and in our outpatient partial hospitalization programs. To make a referral or to schedule an assessment, please call our intake department at: 774-314-3490. For more information about our programs please visit our website.

Click Here to Read More

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Second Dose!

The Hospital for Behavioral Medicine continues to vaccinate our staff. To learn more about Covid-19 symptoms, testing, and vaccines, please visit the CDC COVID-19 Resource Site.

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Your Wellness Resolution for 2021

2020 has been a year of struggles, like losses of loved ones to illness, losses of jobs and uncertainty about finances and how to stay safe and heathy. The issue of health includes more than physical health; mental health is important, too. 2021 can be a year that can be a do-over, a blank slate, if you will. 2021 can be the year you invest in you and especially in your mental health. Did you learn things in 2020 about yourself and your resilience that you can bring into this new year? Here are some resiliency tools that may help carry you through any rough starts in 2021.

STAY FOCUSED AND KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE
Take it a day at a time. Use the skills you learned in 2020 to manage stressful times. Let go of unimportant things and stay in the moment. Remind yourself that what is important is probably right in your home: your family! Make sure to stay in touch with friends who are positive and supportive.

ENJOY SOME FRESH AIR
Just getting outside is one of the best tools to help you refocus. Take some deep breaths, enjoy a brisk walk or even a quiet moment on your front porch. Parks and botanic gardens are still open; make it a family fresh air encounter.

SLOW DOWN, IN FACT, JUST STOP!
Don’t eat at your desk while you answer the phone. Make it a real lunch break. Take a few minutes to just regroup. Hurrying through your day won’t necessarily make you more productive. Take some time to just breath and ready yourself for what you need to do. Pace yourself!

LOOK FOR HELP BEFORE YOU NEED IT
One in five of us, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, will experience a mental illness in our lifetime. With this information in hand, learn about what resources are available in your community. Learn about the services, the cost and days of operation.

Hospital for Behavioral Medicine is your community hospital serving the needs of those who live with mental illness. Both children and adolescents (ages 5-17) and adults will find professional care right when they need it; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We would welcome a call so you can learn more about us, before you even need us! If you or a loved one are in need of mental health services, please call (844)- 319-0000.

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The Moderna Covid-19 Vaccine has Arrived!

It’s here!!!!!! The Moderna Covid-19 vaccine has arrived!

 

 

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Ask our staff! Hospital for Behavioral Medicine Question and Answer Series

At the Hospital for Behavioral Medicine, our staff gets asked a lot of questions! We wanted to answer some of the questions sent via our website and social media accounts.

Question: “What should I bring with me to the hospital”?

Answered by:

Kelsy A. Rondeau, M.Ed., LSAC
Director of Assessment and Referral (Intake)

“Patients should bring 3 days’ worth of comfortable clothing. To maintain the safety of all patients and staff, we do not allow strings, hooded clothes, or shoelaces. All valuable items not allowed on the units will be stored in a safe under camera surveillance until the time of discharge (purses, wallets, cellphones, electronics, etc.). Patients are allowed to have their wedding rings or the use of religious jewelry with physician approval. We provide toiletries, a comb/or brush, and other supplies. For infection control and safety, we ask that patients do not bring their stuffed animals or blankets. We have washers and dryers that staff will assist patients to make sure their clothing is clean throughout their stay. We recommend that patients have some sort of slip-on shoe for comfort and safety while moving throughout the hospital.“ – Kelsy Rondeau

December 15, 2020

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Mental Health During the Holidays: Five Tips to Ease the Struggle.

By Mental Health First Aid USA on December 3, 2020

The holiday season is often a time of year for social activities, holiday shopping, and quality time with loved ones. This year, however, COVID-19 threatens to make those activities more difficult.

Keeping up with activities, staying positive and — especially in 2020 — safely socializing can be overwhelming.

In addition, 40% of U.S. adults face a mental health or substance use challenge, making a complicated holiday season an even more difficult time for many people. Regardless of whether you are living with a mental health challenge or know someone who is, you can take steps to prepare for the holidays and prioritize your mental health in the coming weeks.

Use these tips to get started:

  1. Manage your expectations. Remember that this year is different and may not feel like the holiday season we are used to. Whether you are sharing a meal over Zoom or sending well wishes to family across the country, managing your expectations for yourself and others will help you stay positive. Give yourself and those around you some grace – none of us have been through a time like this before, and we’re all trying to balance staying safe with feeling “normal.”
  2. Pull back when you need to. If, at any point, you feel overwhelmed or anxious, know that it’s perfectly fine to take a step back. Healthy boundaries are necessary for your mental health. Practicing self-care can also help soothe feelings of anxiety or stress. Take a walk, watch a funny movie, or meditate.
  3. Reach out to loved ones. In times like this, living in a digital age can feel like a saving grace. Stay connected with your loved ones via text, social media, video or phone. Make yourself available for those you cannot see in person and offer your support to loved ones who may be struggling — a simple text or email can make a difference.
  4. Monitor your moods. The “holiday blues” are real, so it is important to stay in tune with how you’re feeling. It can be easy to put others before yourself during the holiday season but remember that how you’re feeling matters too. Practicing mindfulness, journaling, or even rating how you feel every day can help you better understand your emotions. Pay attention to what makes you happy and incorporate it into your daily life. And remember: It’s OK to not be OK, and you’re not alone.
  5. Ask for help. If the holidays become more than you can handle, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help. Talk to a loved one, trusted peer, or even your primary care physician about how you’re feeling. If you notice a family member or loved one having a difficult time, encourage them to seek help too.

Source: mentalhealthfirstaid.org

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