Page 2 - Silver Linings Issue4
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                    How can we better serve
our patients?
That is a question we are constantly asking here at Silver Hill Hospital and have been since our founding more than 90 years ago.
There is not one simple answer, of course, but rather a multitude of solutions driven by the latest evidence-based treatments. As an independent, nonprofit psychiatric hospital, Silver Hill is nimble and proactive in its approach to care.
We must be ready to adapt quickly because the country’s mental health care needs are continuously changing and, unfortunately, have not received adequate attention and resources. Mental illness is a growing problem with more than one in five adults living with a mental disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
The COVID-19 pandemic remains with us after more than two years with new variants impacting us in different ways. As cases fluctuate between promisingly low and concernedly high, mental health problems continue to worsen as returning to normal gets delayed time and again. At Silver Hill, we have seen increased numbers of adolescents and young adults with depression, anxiety and other disorders.
While we will continue to address the mental health effects associated with the pandemic, we are moving forward with ambitious plans for 2022 and beyond. From new programming to renovating and repurposing buildings to better serve our patients, Silver Hill is enhancing its standing as a leader in the field.
Our new Argent Program is a comprehensive assessment service designed for those with complex psychiatric disorders or co- occurring conditions. Our Center for the Treatment and Study of Neuropsychiatric Disorders continues to grow and help those with severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. We have plans to renovate our former Acute Care Unit building to meet the demands of today’s mental health environment.
Each new program and innovation is in lockstep with our mission to transform the lives of people impacted by mental illness and addiction. Every staff member and volunteer at Silver Hill is dedicated to this mission and strives every day to make the patient experience as effective, comforting and healing as possible.
Thank you again for your support as we move forward in this time of great need. Your support helps us remain a leader in the mental health field.
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  Andrew J. Gerber, M.D., Ph.D. President and Medical Director
IN THIS ISSUE
4 Cover Story: Art for Therapy’s Sake
7 Knitting Grows in Popularity
8 The Argent Program Takes Shape
10 A Patient’s Story
14 Sharon Kowalchuk Leaves a Powerful Legacy
16 Silver Hill Radio is On The Air
18 A Patient/Staff Collaboration
19 The Annual Fund for Silver Hill Hospital
  













































































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