Outpatient Mental Health Clinic

Patients are safely cared for by a highly trained therapeutic team of: psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, licensed social workers and masters prepared clinicians, psychiatric nurses and case managers.

The focus of the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic is on the long term goal of living safely and productively in the community with such illnesses as: Depression, Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression), thought disorders such as Schizophrenia, and long-standing struggles with hopelessness and despair. Co-occurring alcohol and chemical dependency issues are also addressed. Therapy includes individual and group treatment and psycho-education.

Patients are assessed to evaluate possible medication needs to ensure optimal use of advances in medical care. Care is well coordinated with family and social support networks so that independence in the community is maintained. Coordination with other service agencies, housing, medical providers and inpatient care is used effectively, when needed. Patients are assisted with ongoing links to community services, financial, health care, and transportation resources.

Community-Based Case Management

Using home-based outreach provides ongoing supportive assistance and guidance that maximizes an individual's ability to maintain independent living in the community. Patients are intensively assisted with community services financial, housing, transportation and health care resources (Medicaid, SSI, Disability, etc.). This service provides frequent visiting and counseling to help patients make the best of community-based services and reduce the need for hospitalization. It also provides assistance with the needs of daily living and personal management.

Intensive Case Management (ICM)

The outpatient clinic offers an Intensive Case Management program geared to serve severely and persistently mentally ill patients who need assistance in accessing services due to their severe mental illness. Case managers spend a great deal of time with the patients assisting them in their Activity of Daily Living Skills, transporting them to health and social service appointments and teaching them various skills they need for successful community living. All ICM patients are required to have psychiatric treatment, usually through Ellis programs or the state run mental health clinic on Franklin Street in Schenectady.