A new unit is opening at Griffin Hospital in Derby to help address the growing demand for mental health resources and the space, which will offer psychiatric and therapeutic services, is a first-of-its-kind unit in the state.
The psychiatric assessment, treatment and healing unit, or empath unit, is expected to open at the end of the month, providing a designated space within the hospital where patients can get specialized care.
The unit includes calm colors, natural light, comfortable lounge chairs, sensory headphones, a family room and much more to help make the patient comfortable.
Lindsay Slaybaugh, the emergency services director, said this is needed to help people at what could be one of their most vulnerable times.
“They come at their weakest moment. They feel felt behind, lost, and when they come in we have an obligation to keep patients safe above everything, and then we take away all their belongs and put them in paper clothes and essentially sometimes have to put them on display in the hallway, and it’s a very uncompassionate, cold way to receive care when you are already at a low point in life,” Slaybaugh said.
“This unit is very exciting because now we’re giving them a place that is full of warmth and color and compassion when they really need it at the lowest point,” she said.
Hospital leaders said 12 patients can be seen at a time and the CEO hopes the unit is a model for other hospitals.