Inpatient Behavioral Health Services

Our behavioral health service line and Department of Psychiatry at Hackensack University Medical Center offers emergency crisis stabilization and comprehensive treatment in a 24 bed inpatient behavioral health unit (6 St. John ) for voluntary patients.

Our unit provides short-term inpatient treatment for adults in a tranquil, healing environment that features modern decor, inspirational artwork, motivational messages, and large open spaces with an abundance of natural light and scenic views. 6 St. John was designed to provide a state-of-the-art care setting for the comfort and safety of our patients, visitors and care team.

Services and Programs

When mental illness or crisis situations require hospitalization, our inpatient acute psychiatric unit provides a comprehensive treatment that includes a multidisciplinary team offering specialized services and groups, such as medication education, spirituality, yoga, coping, and stress management skills, along with medical management of psychiatric and other health issues.

Our experienced crisis counselors and trained psychiatric nurses are available 24 hours a day for psychiatric emergencies and onsite evaluation of both adults and children. Through consultation with our psychiatrists, we can make immediate treatment recommendations to resolve the crisis situation and refer to an appropriate level of care.

Team Approach and Care Philosophy

As the #1 ranked hospital in New Jersey, and nationally ranked in many acute care specialties, our behavioral health care team is among the best in the field.

Our care staff include psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, psychiatric social workers and case managers, psychiatry residents in training, medical consultants, clinical partners, an exercise specialist, a creative therapeutic recreational specialist and clinical pharmacists all under the leadership of a medical director, a psychiatric nurse manager and an operations coordinator. The team works daily to address our patients' health needs. We have found that partnering with the patient in their care delivers the best health and wellness outcomes.

The multidisciplinary team provides integrative behavioral health programs and strategies that offer educational groups in stress management/coping skills, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, relaxation and imagery, brain health teaching, addiction education, medication education, women's and men's health issues, and aromatherapy, as well as varied exercise modalities such as yoga, calisthenics, Tai Chi, art and music.

Treatment also includes medication management and milieu therapy. We tailor every aspect of our program to create a personalized treatment plan for each patient, and help navigate and coordinate care and resources.

Most importantly, the patient and family are involved in the process every step of the way, from admission to discharge, and then with an aftercare plan.