Pediatric & Adolescent Psychiatry
Compassionate mental health services for children and teens
Pediatric and Adolescent Psychiatry at Anna Jaques Hospital
The Anna Jaques Child and Adolescent Psychiatry program provides structured and secure inpatient psychiatric services for children and adolescents ages 4 to 17. Our experienced team admits patients to our program when their mental or emotional disorders prevent them from being safe at home, at school or in the community.
If your child or teen is facing mental health or behavioral challenges, we are here for you. Our experienced team supports them and your entire family through the journey to improved mental health.
World-Class Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Program
Anna Jaques recognizes the growing need for mental health services for children and adolescents. To better address these needs, we’re working hard to expand our inpatient mental health and support services.
Anna Jaques received approval and funding from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to support our mental health services. Using these funds, we've increased the number of inpatient beds from 12 to 16 at the hospital’s Amesbury Psychological Center, Children and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit.
Our child and adolescent psychiatric program features a variety of services, including:
- Coordination with state and private agencies, as well as outpatient providers.
- Discharge planning for patients and their families.
- Educational tutoring and coordination with schools.
- Medication evaluation and psychopharmacological treatment.
- Parent, family and guardian involvement in treatment planning.
- Psychiatric, nursing and psychosocial evaluation.
- Restraint avoidance planning.
- Therapeutic and occupational groups, free time and outdoor exercise.
We also offer dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) for kids and teens. DBT is a therapeutic framework primarily used to target emotionally reactive patients. People of any age who want to learn how to change their behaviors, emotions and thoughts may benefit from DBT.
During DBT sessions, your child or teen may explore a variety of topics:
- Distress tolerance
- Emotion regulation
- Interpersonal effectiveness
- Mindfulness
Our program offers short-term inpatient treatment and stabilization. We typically admit patients after evaluation in a hospital emergency department, outpatient treatment center or residential treatment center.
We do not admit patients who are brought directly to the unit without prior notification and admitting orders.
If you or a loved one is experiencing psychiatric distress, you should receive an evaluation by one of the following:
- Anna Jaques Emergency Department
- Another hospital’s emergency department
- A mental health provider qualified to make an emergency evaluation
During your child’s stay with us, they’ll interact with a range of specially trained experts:
- Mental health counselors
- Nurses
- Occupational therapists
- Pediatric psychiatrists
- Social workers
We have access to the full resources of Anna Jaques Hospital to treat medical conditions and emergencies.
Visitation hours are between 8:30 am and 7:00 pm. Parents or guardians must pre-approve all visitors. All visitors must present photo identification prior to visiting the child or adolescent.
Learn more about our adult behavioral health services, including addiction treatment and recovery.
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