Maimonides Health has opened a new Psychiatric Emergency Department (ED) in Brooklyn, expanding its capacity to address mental health crises in the community. The facility is nearly four times larger than its predecessor and is designed to offer privacy and specialized care distinct from the general emergency department. The expanded space includes individual patient rooms, additional observation beds, two restrooms, an in-unit shower for patients preparing for discharge, and room for a larger therapist staff.
“Patient privacy is of paramount concern when working with a highly stigmatized patient population,” said Ken Gibbs, President and CEO of Maimonides Health. “The opening of our Psychiatric Emergency Department allows us to care for even more New Yorkers presenting with mental health needs in a more dignified, private, and therapeutic setting.”
The new Psychiatric ED is part of Maimonides’ broader plan to respond to growing mental health needs across New York City. Recent data indicate that nearly half of teenagers in New York City have experienced depressive symptoms and 15% of children between ages 3 and 13 have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Among adults, about one-quarter reported having a mental health disorder each year.
The hospital plans further expansion through the creation of southern Brooklyn’s first Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP), as well as an inpatient adolescent unit. Funding for these initiatives includes $6 million from the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), made available under Governor Kathy Hochul’s $1 billion statewide initiative aimed at addressing the ongoing mental health crisis. In addition to this funding, last year Maimonides received three grants totaling over $17 million from OMH, Healthfirst, and Fidelis Care to support behavioral health services.
“This new facility will allow us to continue providing outstanding care to a highly stigmatized population, but with the ability to treat even more patients in an expanded space with many enhancements,” said , Chair of the Department of Psychiatry of Maimonides Health. “Today marks the first phase of this project. We will soon embark on the next phase of this program, building the first Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) in southern Brooklyn, in addition to building our psychiatric in-patient adolescent unit. We’re proud to bring this level of care to our community in Brooklyn.”
“At Maimonides, the Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine teams work hand in hand to deliver the highest level of care and to better serve this vulnerable population,” said , Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine of Maimonides Health. “Today marks a significant milestone in our unwavering commitment to providing comprehensive, compassionate, and timely mental healthcare to our communities.”
Maimonides’ long-term vision includes establishing CPEP services within its Psychiatric ED. CPEPs operate around-the-clock as entry points for people experiencing behavioral health emergencies by offering triage services as well as observation, treatment options, and referrals.
“We are thrilled to open this new space and expand our services to all of our community,” said , Vice Chair of Acute Care Psychiatry of Maimonides Health. “Our new Psychiatric Emergency Department will provide a safe, expanded space that will serve as the primary entry point for anyone experiencing a behavioral health crisis. We also look forward to not only expanding our physical space but expanding all of our services as we take the next steps to become a Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP). We will be the only hospital in southern Brooklyn with this offering and only one of 31 in the entire New York State.”
This development aligns with ongoing renovations at Maimonides’ Children’s Emergency Department as part of efforts intended nearly triple total emergency room square footage.
Federal officials have recognized these efforts as models for collaboration between federal investment strategies and local healthcare goals.
“The new Psychiatric Emergency Department is a strong example of what’s possible when federal investment aligns with local vision,” said Jason Loughran, HUD Regional Administrator. “HUD is proud to support projects that enhance access to whole health services including physical, mental,and spiritual well-being.”
“I’m thrilled that is opening a Psychiatric Emergency Department in Brooklyn meeting criticaland much-needed demandfor expandedmentalhealth resourcesandcareacrossthecity,”said Congressman Dan Goldman.“ThegrowingmentalhealthcrisisinAmericamustbemetwithmeaningfulresourcesandsupport.IamgratefulthatMaimonedesis takingthisimportantsteptobroadenaccesstohigh-qualitymentalhealthcareforNewYorkersinneed.”
“Maimonides’PsychiatricEmergencyDepartmentwillprovidespecializedbehavioralhealthsupporttoindividualsincrisisinanenvironmentthatis suitedforthiscare.ThisnewunitwilladdmuchneededcapacityforBrooklynandhelpmoreindividualsandfamiliesaccessthiscriticalcareinatimelymanner,”saidDr.AnnSullivanCommissioneroftheOfficeofMentalHealth.“ThisnewdepartmentreflectsGovernorHochul’sfullcommitmenttowardensuringallNewYorkershaveaccesstohigh-qualitybehavioralhealthserviceswheneverandwheretheyneedthem.”
Local legislators echoed support for increased capacity dedicated toward psychiatric emergencies:
“I wanttocongratulateandthankMaimonidesMedicalCenterforonceagainprovidingourcommunityandourcitywithwhatweareindireneedof.Atatimewhenweneeditmost,thisnewPsychiatricEmergencyDepartmentwillnodoubtcontributetosavinglives.OnbehalfoftheNewYorkStateSenate,IextendourheartfeltgratitudetoeveryoneatMaimonedesthatmakethispossible,”saidSenatorStephenChan.
“TheopeningofthePsychiatricEmergencyDepartmentisameaningfulinvestmentinthewell-beingofBrooklynresidentsthatcomesatatimewhenourstateisprioritizingmentalhealthservices.Thisdepartmentwillensurethatthoseinneedreceiveprofessionalserviceswithprivacyanddignity.IcommendMaimonidesforitscommitmenttoprovidingthismuchneededservicetothecommunity,”saidSenatorRoxannePersaud.
“ThisnewPsychiatricEmergencyDepartmentrepresentsavitalinvestmentinthedignityandcareourcommunitiesdeserve.IcommendMaimonidesforleadingthewayincompassionatemodernmentalhealthservices,”saidAssemblymanLesterChang.
“CongratulationstoMaimonidesMedicalCenterontheopeningofthe newPsychiatricEmergencyDepartment.Itwillbededicatedtohelpingthoseexperiencingbehavioralhealthissuesandwillprovideasafeenvironmenttohandleanemergency24hoursaday.Th ank youtoeveryonewhomadetodaypossible,”sa id Assembly Member Alec Brook-Krasny .
“AsoneofthelargestbehavioralhealthcareprovidersinBrooklyn,M aim onid es Medical Center playsavitalroleinsupportingourcommunities’physicalandmentalh ealth.AtatimewhenweareseeingMedicaidcutsa ndcontinueddisinvestmentsinbehavioralhealthservicesacrossthecountry,IamproudtowelcomeandsupportthisnewinvestmentinBrooklyn’smentalhealth infrastructure.It signifiesameaningfulsteptowardstheongoingissueofmentalhealthacros sthenation,andwehavetocontinueadvocatingforitinsteadofignoringit,”saidAssemblyMemberMarcelaMitaynes .
“IapplaudMa im onid esHealthfortheopeningofthenewPsychiatri cEmergencyDepart ment . Thisexpansionmarksapowerfulstepforwardinh o w werespondtomentalh ealthneedswithdignityprivacy,andcompassion.Withthisinvestment,o urcommunitieswillhaveimprovedaccess toa widerrangeofbehavio ralh ealthinterventionsthroughthisimmenselycriticalcenterfo rSouthan dCentralBrooklyn,”sa id Council Member Farah Louis.”AsCo-Chairoft heBro ok lynDelegation,Iamhonor edtohaveadvocatedforthisimpor tantfacilityandt ohavesecuredanallocationof$1 .95millionforthePhilipsAzur ionBiplaneImagingSystemfo rMa im onid esHealth,andremainsteadfasti nmycommitmen t tofightingforthehealt hcareinfra structureBro oklyndeserves.Institutionslike Maimon idesarethebackboneo fourborough’swell-being,andIlookforwardtocontinu ingou rworktostrengthenaccess t obeha vioralh ealthservi cesforallmembersofourcommunity.”
“Atatimewhenbeh avioralh ealthneedsarerising,se rvices t o fulfillthoseneedshavebeencut.That’swhyitissoexcitingtoknowthatou rBr ooklyncomm unitywi llsoonbeabletoacce ssexpandedan dcomprehensiveb ehavior alh ealthservic esatMa imo nide s.IamgratefultomyBrooklyndelegationan dtheMaimo nidest eamfo rjoiningmeinbringin gthi sfundingtof ruition.Wecanallbereassuredknowingtha tourco mmun itieswi llhavementa lhealt hse rvicesforge nerations toc ome,”saidCouncilMemberAlexaAvilés .
“I’mpro udofourworkont heNewYo rkCityCounci lforsec ur ingnearly$2millionfo rMai monid esHealthallowing themtoc ontinuetheirremarkablewo rk ,”s aid Council Member Susan Zhuang.”It ’swonderfu ltostandalongsidemanyc ommunitypartnersa ndcelebrate th eo peningoft henewPsychia tricEmergen cyDepartme nt.Touringthefacili ty,youc ans ee th ecaretheseprovidershav eevenintheirchoicetobringcolortothedesignoft heED.Ma im onide shaspersonallybeen thereformyfamily,a ndsomanyothersi nSouthBro ok lyn.Iwil lfightt oensureou rc ommunitie shave moreresourcesjustlikethi swithMa imo nide sleadingth eway.”
