Erin O'Gara Dollard, Senior Philanthropy Officer at the Newport Hospital Foundation, recently addressed our club to shed light on an important partnership between Newport Hospital and Bradley Hospital. The aim of this partnership is to raise $5 million for the development of an eight-bed adolescent behavioral health unit at Newport Hospital. This unit will provide essential services for young individuals aged 12 to 18 suffering from acute mental health disorders.
Erin highlighted the critical need for such a facility, emphasizing that it will offer stabilization, assessment, and treatment for adolescents dealing with conditions like suicidal tendencies and aggressive behaviors. She also mentioned that the urgency of this project was underscored by a recent declaration of a state of emergency for child and adolescent mental health in Rhode Island by a coalition of pediatricians and psychiatrists.