Saucon Source (https://sauconsource.com/tag/behavioral-health/)
When young Jack Sanders feels the threat of sensory over-stimulation, he reaches for his father’s cell phone or iPad. The 10-year-old, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three, seeks refuge in the Joe Danger online game for its calming effects. But suddenly one day in 2020, the game vanished from the phone’s screen.
While first responders excel at preventing harm, they rarely seek help to combat the emotional toll their occupation can have on their own mental health. St. Luke’s University Health Network is addressing this issue by launching a program that provides support and therapy for first responders who suffer on-the-job post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma-related side effects.
Penn Foundation and St. Luke’s University Health Network announced last week that that the Bucks County-based foundation will join St. Luke’s, pending regulatory agency approval.
Tracy Hill, Ph.D., runs the Center Street Center, a Bethlehem-based counseling practice for individuals, couples and families in need of treatment for various emotional, mental and behavioral health issues.
St. Luke’s University Health Network has tripled its number of inpatient beds for behavioral health from 57 to 168, making it the largest provider of psychiatric services in the region. Inpatient beds are now available at three campuses: Sacred Heart in Allentown, Quakertown and Gnaden Huetten in Lehighton.