Sharon Regional Medical Center is ramping up behavioral health services for children and adolescents between the ages of five and 18 years old due to a rising need in the community.

According to a press release, after having to temporarily stop taking pediatric behavioral health patients in January due to healthcare worker shortages, the hospital doubled down on its efforts to recruit top psychiatric nurses and has a fully operational pediatric behavioral health unit once again.

Child and adolescent behavioral health treatment is a vital component in the continuum of mental health care for the Shenango Valley and beyond.

Sharon Regional's pediatric unit is the only state-licensed inpatient facility treating children and adolescents within a 1.5-hour radius from Sharon in Pennsylvania.

"Too many young people suffer with significant mental health impairments ranging from depression and anxiety to early onset psychosis. The experience of significant trauma, suicidal ideation, and mental illness among children and adolescents has been on the rise in the United States over the past decade," said Sharon Regional Senior Director of Behavioral Health Services, TJ Hurdock.

The pediatric unit is open to children and adolescents ages five to 18 and referrals can be made from any hospital emergency department in Ohio or Pennsylvania. 

Additionally, Sharon Regional offers the full continuum of adult inpatient treatment as well as outpatient partial hospitalization and medication management treatment options.