Psychiatry & Psychology
Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood through adulthood and into old age. Disturbances or disorders of emotions, thinking and behavior generally respond very well to professional treatment. Our outstanding staff of highly trained academic psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers provide care to adults and children including consultation, evaluation, and treatments, as well as the latest options in individual, group and family psychotherapies and medication management in outpatient and inpatient settings.
Working with partners at the Capital District Psychiatric Center (CDPC) and the Samuel Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, we provide clinical psychiatric care, consultation and education.
For adults, we offer inpatient treatment at all System hospitals and at CDPC, located next door to Albany Medical Center.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day.
Languages: English, Spanish.
Call 988
Care Throughout the Capital Region
All of our hospitals offer inpatient care and emergency care for mental health needs and we provide outpatient services at Albany Medical Center, Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital (through a partnership with Behavioral Health Services North), and Saratoga Hospital.
All providers and locations can be found in the Get Care section of this page.
As an academic medical system, we treat many mental health disorders. Among them:
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Psychiatric issues related to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
- Anxiety disorders
- Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders
- Behavioral disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Cancer psychotherapy
- Clinical depression
- Eating disorders
- Geriatric psychiatry
- Obsessive compulsive disorders
- Personality disorders
- Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders
- Psychiatric issues related to trauma
- Addiction services
- Assistance with eating disorders and weight management
- Assistance with relationship issues, low self-esteem, and trauma
- Assistance with understanding and coping with chronic illness
- Assistance with behavioral and developmental difficulties
- Crisis services
- Depression and anxiety treatments
- Family education on adherence or behavioral compliance
- Inpatient treatment
- Intensive case management
- Medication and non-medication support
- Relaxation and coping strategies to reduce pain and anxiety
- Psychological evaluation related to chronic pain
- Psychological evaluation and clearance for surgery
- Services for impaired professionals
- Support around issues of death and dying
- Support groups
We also offer psychiatric and psychological treatment and services for children and teenagers through the Bernard & Millie Duker Children's Hospital.
Inpatient Mental Health
All four hospitals in our system offer inpatient mental health services to adults in crisis and in need of hospitalization. This can includes including depression and suicidal thoughts, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and other conditions that may lead to patients being in danger of harming themselves or others.
Albany Medical Center
For adults (18 and older) in crisis and in need of hospitalization, we offer short-term inpatient treatment at Albany Medical Center and short-term and long-term inpatient treatment at CDPC, located next door to Albany Medical Center.
Columbia Memorial Health
Inpatient care is offered at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson. Learn more about mental health services available through Columbia Memorial Health.
Glens Falls Hospital
The crisis center is located in the emergency department. The Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit provides acute psychiatric care with a capacity of 30 beds. The Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit is multidisciplinary, and includes two full-time psychiatrists. The unit functions as a structured treatment environment offering psychotherapy, group therapy, occupational and recreational therapy, mental health education, psychiatric case management, medication management, nursing care, and medical management.
Unit Access
Referrals are made through the outpatient programs, as well as through the Emergency Department at Glens Falls Hospital.
Saratoga Hospital
We provide short-term inpatient psychiatric services for adults. Following a thorough assessment by a psychiatrist, certified social worker, and registered nurse, patients receive comprehensive care in a safe, therapeutic setting dedicated to helping the patient transition home with a stable support network.
Virtual Care
A partnership between the Albany Med Health System and behavioral health provider aptihealth is helping connect patients to mental health services. aptihealth, a value-based care provider, is headquartered in Saratoga Springs. All System campuses offer aptihealth services to patients in need of emotional and mental health support.
Referred patients who sign up for aptihealth will be connected within 48 hours with a licensed therapist, who will conduct an online assessment to understand the patient’s needs.
The patient and therapist then create a personalized care plan to improve mental health within 90 days, that includes: weekly online video sessions; if recommended, a prescriber added to the care team, with biweekly sessions; secure direct messaging between patients and therapists; and 24/7 support services.
Training the Next Generation of Mental Health Professionals
Learn more about the Psychiatry Residency Program at Albany Medical College.
