Indianapolis – Riley Children’s Health announced the opening of an 11‑bed Medical‑Behavioral Health Unit, marking Indiana’s first dedicated pediatric medical‑psychiatric facility. The unit is designed to serve children and adolescents who require simultaneous medical treatment and psychiatric care, a need that has long forced families to seek out‑of‑state placement or wait in emergency departments.
Addressing a Statewide Crisis
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, roughly 74,000 Indiana adolescents experience serious thoughts of suicide each year, while 114,000 suffer major depressive episodes. The lack of integrated care has left many young patients without a single location where both physical and mental health professionals can coordinate treatment.
What the Unit Offers
President of Riley Children’s Health David Biggerstaff explained that the new unit will treat children with severe eating disorders, nutritional rehabilitation needs, or acute medical conditions that are compounded by psychiatric diagnoses. By housing both services under one roof, the unit eliminates the need for separate hospital stays and reduces the emotional strain on families.
The unit is projected to care for about 325 patients annually. In addition to medical and psychiatric beds, the space includes:
- Shuman Commons – a dedicated area for expressive‑arts therapy.
- Sensory & Recreation Rooms – designed for therapeutic decompression and emotional regulation.
- In‑Unit Classroom – provides educational support so hospitalized youth can maintain academic progress.
Community Support and Funding
The project was made possible through donor contributions to the Riley Children’s Foundation’s “Every Child Deserves Riley” campaign. “Every child deserves access to the specialized, compassionate care they need to heal and thrive,” said Biggerstaff. Foundation President Courtney Roberts added that the unit reflects what the Indiana community can achieve when it rallies behind children’s health.
Broader Impact on Indiana’s Health System
Riley Children’s Health already operates the Pediatric Integrated Behavioral Health program, which extends primary‑care behavioral support to more than 80,000 children across 81 Indiana clinics. The new inpatient unit expands that network, offering a seamless transition from outpatient to inpatient care when a child’s condition escalates.
Dr. Douglas Graham, MD, PhD, highlighted the uniqueness of having a single physician team capable of addressing both medical and psychiatric needs, emphasizing a whole‑child approach that aligns with Riley’s mission to bring top‑tier pediatric care to communities across the state.
Looking Ahead
With this unit, Indiana families no longer need to travel out of state for comprehensive pediatric care that addresses both body and mind. The facility stands as a model for other regions seeking to close the gap between medical and mental‑health services for children.
Riley Children’s Health continues to seek community partnerships and philanthropic support to expand its services, ensuring that Indiana’s youngest patients receive the coordinated, expert care they deserve close to home.
Original reporting: 93.1 WIBC (Indianapolis) — read the source article.
