Expansion adds 52 critically needed beds, lowering the age of treatment from 12 to 7 years old
Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive health network, today opened Carrier Clinic’s $40 million, 43,000-square-foot expansion project to further the treatment of children and adolescents and provide support services to their families, dramatically expanding care critically needed for children facing a mental health crisis.
The enhancement allows Carrier Clinic, a leader in treating adolescents with psychiatric and co-occurring disorders, to serve a greater number of children by lowering the age of patients to 7 years old from the current minimum age of 12. This will better meet the growing demand for mental health care for youths, who are experiencing ever-increasing rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and other psychiatric conditions.
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for children 10 to 14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even children younger than 10 are grappling with mental illness and suicidal thoughts. Nationwide, one-third of all Emergency Department visits at children’s hospitals are for suicide attempts. Many more experience acute anxiety, depression, and other conditions. Carrier alone has seen a nearly 30 percent increase in recent years in the number of youths admitted for treatment for mental illness or substance use disorder, or both.
The expansion features 52 inpatient beds for youths, The Cohen Community Resource & Education Center, innovative treatment models such as multi-sensory rooms, an academic teaching center and medical staff suite to expand the capacity to teach physicians and other mental health professionals.
“Even though the number of children and adolescents with mental health issues is increasing significantly, more than half do not receive adequate treatment,’’ said Robert C. Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “This project underscores our commitment to prioritizing child and adolescent mental health as a cornerstone of transforming health care. Thanks to the grants we received from our legislators, along with private donations and the generosity of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, today’s opening of the Carrier Clinic expansion shows the power of partnership in turning vision into reality and creating new pathways to hope for young people and their families.”
The project was funded by state grants and private donations. State Senator Andrew Zwicker and Assemblyman Roy Freiman sponsored resolutions to secure a total of $10 million in state funds, approved by Governor Phil Murphy.
A $10 million grant was also provided by The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, led by philanthropist Alex Cohen, to create a family resource and training center. The Cohen Community Resource & Education Center is available to all Hackensack Meridian Health team members, patients and the community, and will offer access to clinicians for questions, guidance in navigating issues and reducing and preventing readmissions, while also serving as a hub for the community to engage in educational seminars and training, such as mental health first aid training related to mental illness and substance use disorders.
One of the driving forces behind this project is the recognition that addressing mental health in childhood is crucial for preventing adult mental health crises. A significant percentage of mental health conditions emerge early in life, with nearly one-third of cases appearing before age 14 and almost half before age 18. Early and appropriate intervention can dramatically improve a child's future quality of life.
“This opening marks a significant step forward in our commitment to youth mental health,” said Kenneth Esser, Executive Vice President of Behavioral Health Transformation Services, Hackensack Meridian Health. “Research continues to underscore the urgency of early, accessible care. We are proud to expand services that not only respond to crises, but proactively support young people and their families on the path to wellness. This new facility is a testament to what’s possible when leadership and community come together to prioritize mental health and ensure young people receive the care they need, when they need it.”
The new facility will provide a state-of-the-art healing environment for more children and adolescents in crisis. The demand for inpatient mental health care for youth in New Jersey has outpaced available resources, a situation intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. This expansion will allow for the provision of specialized, focused care in a setting designed for prompt diagnosis and treatment by a skilled and compassionate team.
Hackensack Meridian Carrier Clinic President and Chief Hospital Executive Rohit Mahajan shared, “This expansion represents our deep commitment to the children and families we serve every day. We are seeing firsthand the growing need for youth mental health services and this new space strengthens our ability to provide coordinated, high-quality care, ensuring they receive the right care at the right time in a setting designed for healing.”
The expansion comes at a critical time, as youth mental health issues are on the rise. Recent data indicates that nearly one in three young people between the ages of 12 and 17 had a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral problem in 2022-2023. Furthermore, in 2023, two in five high schoolers reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Suicide remains a leading cause of death for adolescents, with one in five high school students reporting that they have seriously considered suicide.
"We were moved by how this project will profoundly improve care for young people facing mental health challenges, and it compelled us to take action,” said Steven and Alexandra Cohen. “We hope this resource center becomes a space of healing for children and families in need, creating a lasting difference in their lives."
The new facility will not only increase the capacity to help more children heal and save lives but will also provide vital support for their families. Recognizing that a child's mental illness affects the entire family, the expansion includes dedicated space for caregiver meetings and guidance on how to best support their children. This holistic approach addresses the needs of both the young patients and their support systems.
"This landmark expansion at Carrier Clinic illuminates our unwavering commitment at Hackensack Meridian Health to confront the youth mental health crisis, one of the most defining public health challenges of our generation," says Regina Foley, PhD, MBA, RN. President, Specialty Hospitals and Clinical Services. "We are not just adding beds; we are building a forward-thinking, comprehensive ecosystem of care that broadens our ability to provide more of the nuanced, in-depth treatment we long have given to our youngest and most vulnerable patients. When a child is diagnosed early and provided top-quality care, they acquire the coping skills and confidence to carry them through life's many challenges through adulthood.”
“Significantly, we are committed to shaping mental health for the better, which is why this expansion includes a dedicated space for educating the community as well as health professionals about best practices in the treatment of mental illness."
Currently, Carrier’s youth-focused services include an inpatient acute hospital unit, an intensive residential services program, a residential treatment center, psychiatric community homes, and the East Mountain School, a state-accredited school for 7th- through 12th-grade students with emotional and behavioral disorders. Psychiatric care for children and adolescents includes traditional treatment models as well as equine-assisted therapy, art therapy, music therapy, and horticultural therapy.
“Throughout the development of the unit, the focus was on how to create an innovative healing environment specifically tailored to the needs of our youth,” said Thomas Ricart, MD, PhD, Chief of Adolescent Services, Hackensack Meridian Carrier Clinic. “By collaborating with administration and front-line staff alike, we were able to design a unit that allows our youth to feel safe, respected, and empowered to engage in their care.”
“The overall design is inspired by the natural environment that surrounds the hospital, bringing in natural light and being oriented towards the Sourland Mountains,” noted Dr. Ricart. “It has sensory diverse spaces, including dedicated sensory rooms, a gym, and multiple group rooms to provide a range of activities. This new space enables us to deliver care that is evidence-based and conscious of the experience and needs of those in treatment.”
Carrier Clinic’s child and adolescent expansion is the latest in a series of important moves Hackensack Meridian Health has made in recent years to meet the growing mental health crisis among youths.
In recent years, Hackensack Meridian Health announced the launch of an Adolescent Clinician Training for Suicide Prevention for Nurses (ACTS) for HMH nursing professionals.
With a $100,000 grant from the Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children's Mental Health, and a partnership with The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide, the HMH plan entailed training non-behavioral-health nurses to better assess, evaluate, and treat or refer suicidal patients with whom they come into contact.
HMH also helped create the New Jersey Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative, a program that allows pediatricians to consult with an on-call psychiatrist, and which has grown to more than 1,100 provider members. More than 30,000 referrals to mental health experts have been made through the collaborative since its inception.
“Youth mental health is not a future issue. It’s a crisis families are facing right now,” said Assemblyman Roy Freiman. “When a child is struggling, parents shouldn’t have to wait weeks or travel hours to find care. This expansion at Carrier Clinic means more young people will have access to treatment earlier, in a space designed specifically for healing and recovery. Investing in mental health services like this is one of the most important things we can do for our families and our communities.”
Senator Andrew Zwicker noted: “This expansion at Carrier Clinic represents a critical investment in the health and future of New Jersey’s children. We are seeing unprecedented demand for youth mental health services, and this facility ensures that more young people can access high-quality, compassionate care when they need it most. I’m proud to have supported this project, which provides earlier intervention, expanded capacity, and a supportive environment for both patients and their families.”