What to Expect: Your Child's Stay

The 14 beds of the St. Louis Children's Hospital Behavioral Health Unit are for children between the ages of five and seventeen. Every element of the facility is created with children going through mental health crises in mind, from the soothing artwork on the walls to the safety elements that assist prevent self-harm. What to anticipate throughout your child's stay is as follows:

Length of Stay

Usually children spend five to seven days at the facility. Depending on their requirements, your kid may remain for a longer or shorter period of time. Our objective is to help them move back to their home while stabilising their mental health crises as fast as we can.

The majority of children spend five to seven days there. Depending on their requirements, your kid may remain longer or shorter. As soon as possible, we want to stabilise their mental health crises and assist them in returning to their own homes.

Care Team

There will be a broad group of professionals available to you and your kid, including the following:

specialists who diagnose your child's issue and oversee their therapy, such as psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners.

The creative process of producing art is used by art therapists to enhance children's physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

With music, a music therapist can meet the unique requirements of each child in terms of their physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development.

Recreational therapists employ a range of activities to improve children's health and wellbeing, from dancing to playing games.

occupational therapists, who assist children in overcoming challenges with commonplace activities and circumstances.

social workers who link your family with community resources and provide group and individual therapy.

Devoted nurses skilled in assisting children with sadness, anxiety, and

Approach to Care

The treatment we provide is supported by research on the best practices for treating mental health crises and averting them in the future.

Moreover, de-escalation strategies are taught to our team members. As a result, they can lessen the need for physical safety measures like restraint or isolation of patients by talking about resolving behavioral concerns.

A Typical Day on the Unit

From the moment they wake up until they go to bed, kids on the unit are often busy. St Louis therapy  They have the capacity to manage everyday events, other people, and their own emotions as a result of this. On a regular day, these things could occur:

classes to develop coping mechanisms. Children are divided into groups according to their age and unique requirements for a portion of the day. Each group receives assistance from members of the care team in learning coping mechanisms. They may include techniques for controlling one's own emotions, coping with challenging or perplexing feelings, or seeking alternatives to self-harm.

Time for silence. The facility provides a separate area where children may be alone themselves in a quiet, dark atmosphere to practise skills.

Visiting Hours

Every day, there are two specified times for visiting. The precise times might occasionally alter based on your child's schedule. When your kid is hospitalised, we will discuss the current visiting hours.

You are also invited to enrol in specific workshops on coping mechanisms so that you can support your kid in maintaining these abilities once they return home.

Family Updates and Meetings

At least once a day, we'll phone or text you to let you know how your child is doing. Also, when required, we'll set up meetings with your child's care personnel. You play a crucial role in your child's care, and we appreciate any comments or inquiries you may have.

What Comes Next

Before your kid departs, we'll create a plan for what happens next in collaboration with you, your child, their doctor, home therapy team, and school. St Louis therapist  This strategy will be adjusted to meet the demands of your child. It could incorporate a number of treatments, such as medication, outpatient therapy, and other therapies.

Our social workers will assist in locating neighbourhood services that could later be advantageous to you and your kid. If either you or your child ever needs further resources or assistance, we'll make sure you know who to call.