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One Year of Transforming Adolescent Mental Health Care
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
A look at Ellis Medicine's Family Room, an innovative walk-in mental health care site
Marking the one-year anniversary of The Family Room, we’re reflecting on the impact this innovative walk-in mental health service has had on our community. Designed for adolescents and teens as an alternative to the Emergency Room, The Family Room has provided a safe, cozy and home-like space for young people in crisis—offering immediate support, reducing ER visits, and connecting families to essential resources.
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Real Impact in the First Year
- Emergency Room Diversion: 87% of visitors avoided an ER trip, reducing stress for Family Room guests and their families—while reducing overall community healthcare costs by $572,700.
- Rapid Support: The average visit lasts just 90 minutes—faster and more efficient than an ER stay.
- Emotional Relief: Guests reported a 30% decrease in emotional distress after their visits.
- Crisis Support: 60% of visitors sought help for self-harm or suicidal thoughts, highlighting the urgent need for this service.
- Ongoing Help: 43% of guests were connected to long-term mental health care for continued support.
- Zero out-of-pocket costs: The Family Room model ensures its guests and their families pay nothing for our services, thanks to generous grants from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, The Little Family Foundation, and The Schenectady Foundation.
“We’ve seen firsthand how vital The Family Room is for young people who feel overwhelmed and unsure where to turn,” said Tori Daniels, DSW, LCSW, Outpatient Crisis Diversion Supervisor at Ellis. “Such needs have only grown more urgent since the COVID pandemic. By providing immediate, compassionate care in a warm, welcoming environment—much like a literal family room—we’re giving adolescents, teens and their families the support they need, at the moment they need it most.”
A Proven Model of Mental Health Support
The Family Room builds on the success of The Living Room, Ellis Medicine’s pioneering walk-in mental health program for adults. Since opening in 2018, The Living Room has helped thousands of individuals, maintaining an exceptional 98% ER diversion rate, and saving the community more than $8.5 million in overall healthcare costs.
By increasing awareness of these innovative services, we aim to reach more families in need and ensure that no one in our community faces a mental health crisis alone. We encourage you to forward this message to anyone who may be curious or benefit from this vital service.
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All official communications regarding Ellis Medicine are arranged through the Communications Department. We look forward to working with members of the public and media organizations to provide accurate, up-to-date information about Ellis Medicine.
Contact:
Communications
Ellis Medicine
1101 Nott Street
Schenectady, NY 12308
518.232.9288