Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital

03/30/2026

Depression and bipolar disorder are often talked about together, but they’re not the same thing, and understanding the difference matters.

People often think of depression when they hear "low moods." It can affect how someone feels, thinks and functions day-to-day, often bringing ongoing sadness, low energy and loss of interest in things they used to enjoy.

Bipolar disorder, on the other hand, includes both lows and highs. Along with depressive episodes, kids and teens may also experience mania or hypomania, which are periods of unusually high energy, big emotions, racing thoughts, impulsive behavior or needing very little sleep. These shifts can impact school, relationships and daily life.

🧠 For young people with bipolar disorder, moods can feel intense and confusing. But with the right support, kids and teens can learn how to recognize patterns, manage emotions and build stability over time. That's where we come in.

Awareness and early support make a difference. If something feels off, start a conversation. Today we recognize World Bipolar Day by spreading understanding, reducing stigma and reminding families that help is always available. 💚

03/27/2026

🤔 What is music therapy, and how is it different from just listening to songs?

It's a clinical, evidence‑based therapy led by a trained music therapist. Through activities like songwriting ✍, drumming 🥁, lyric discussion 💬 or guided listening 🎧, kids can safely express big emotions when words feel hard to find.

Here at Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital, we care about using all the tools we can to help kids and teens build coping skills, improve communication and practice healthy social interaction. Music therapy works alongside individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy and psychiatric care by giving patients another pathway to process what they’re already working on (plus, it's fun!).

It's used regularly by our expressive therapy team, which is currently growing! If you know someone who's passionate about using music to help kids and teens get better, have them apply to our full-time music therapist position: https://jobs.uhsinc.com/garfield-park-behavioral-hospital/jobs/334675?lang=en-us.

03/26/2026

📣 Say it louder for the people in the back: 👏 Mental 👏 health 👏 IS 👏 health!

That's our COO, Patrick Sanders, M.S., M.A., M.H.A., speaking at the Becker's Healthcare 13th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable about how the stigma surrounding behavioral health treatment is one of the biggest barriers preventing people from getting the support they need.

When Patrick reps both Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital and Hartgrove Behavioral Health System on the national stage 🎤, it helps show just how much we care about breaking that stigma. Progress happens when healthcare leaders work together to change the narrative, and we’re proud to be part of that work.

Every conversation like this brings us one step closer to a world where asking for help feels normal. You can catch Patrick back on stage at Becker's Hospital Review's 16th Annual Meeting in Chicago where he's doing two sessions on April 13 and April 16.

More details: https://bit.ly/4no8Kxu.

03/25/2026

Thanks to Chicago Public Schools Network 3 for dropping by to visit Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital, too!

A strong partnership like ours really makes a difference. By teaming up with CPS counselors, we support students early and help parents and families get the tools, care and guidance they need to feel better together.

Shout-out to our partners at Chicago Public Schools Network 3!

This group works closely with our team to make sure students get the support they need both in and out of the classroom.

When schools and behavioral health providers like Hartgrove Behavioral Health System stay connected 🤝, kids are less likely to fall through the cracks. We care about providing the right communication, coordination and trust to balance treatment, academics and each student’s individual needs.

By staying connected with CPS, we can help students get the care they need while keeping them engaged in their schoolwork, and we’re grateful for the collaboration and the shared commitment to helping students succeed.

03/24/2026

We care about helping feelings find their voice, and songwriting + storytelling is a powerful way to do that.

During Music Therapy Month, Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital's expressive therapy team led a "songwriting through storytelling" activity with patients, using a keyboard 🎹, markers and lyric sheets with fill‑in‑the‑blank prompts. The team invited patients to create their own stories, turn them into lyrics, and bring them to life through music.

How it works:
🎧 Helps kids and teens express hard-to-name emotions.
📝 Builds coping skills and self-awareness.
🎶 Encourages creativity, confidence and connection.
💬 Opens the door to meaningful conversations in therapy.

Music has a way of saying what words alone sometimes can’t, and we love seeing how proud patients feel when their stories turn into songs.

03/23/2026

Happy National Puppy Day! 🐶

Our staff members sent in pet pics of their furry friends all dressed up, and we just had to share some of the fits!

Dogs can be great for mental health because they lower stress (*most* of the time 😆), give us structure and get us moving.

Hope these fun photos bring a little extra brightness to your day, and if you've got a pup to share, we'd love to see it!

03/20/2026

As we recognize National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, we’re sharing some info to help families, caregivers and teens stay informed and start meaningful conversations.

In 2004, nearly 1 in 10 teens reported misusing prescription opioids. But in 2023, that dropped to just 1% of 12th graders. That progress shows prevention, education and conversation work. ✅

At the same time, overdose deaths have risen sharply in recent years, largely due to fentanyl, reminding us that today’s risks look different than they did before.

We care. If you or a loved one need help, reach out.

03/19/2026

Today we're throwing it back to Valentine's Day and giving a well-deserved shout-out to our human resources team for Healthcare HR Week!

Their supportive messages truly do come from the heart. And the little cupids with their faces? Peak HR personality! 🤣

This team does so much behind the scenes. They support employees by answering tough questions, navigating challenges and keeping everything running smoothly. They’re professional when it matters, approachable when you need it and clearly not afraid to have a little fun along the way.

HR doesn’t have to be all policies and paperwork. Our team shows you can be supportive, helpful and human, sometimes all at once. 💚

03/18/2026

📅 Coming up this Saturday, March 21!

Dr. Angela Mahome, M.D., Child Psychiatrist at Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital, will lead a workshop, Black Women and Girls: Managing and Thriving with ADHD, at the Chicago Illinois Chapter Links Incorporated's 2026 Mental Health & Wellness Symposium at Olive-Harvey College.

Dr. Mahome has been practicing psychiatry for more than 20 years and is well known and respected for her experience in ADHD. We're proud to see her share her expertise beyond our hospital walls!

03/17/2026

Our dietary team served up a St. Patrick’s Day favorite today: corned beef and cabbage (plus potatoes 🥔). 🍽️

Traditionally, corned beef and cabbage became a go‑to St. Patrick’s Day meal in Irish‑American communities as a simple, comforting dish meant to bring people together, and that spirit still holds.

For some of our younger patients, this was their very first time trying it, which made the day even more special. New experiences and a little celebration can go a long way! ☘️

03/16/2026

Here at Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital, we care a lot about providing culturally responsive care to those that need it most, because every young person deserves mental healthcare where they feel safe, respected and seen.

🌟 Our Polaris Program is a first-of-its-kind inpatient psychiatric program built specifically to support sexual and gender minority youth with affirming, compassionate, evidence-based care. For National LGBTQ Health Awareness Week, we're sharing words from former patients who told us how great it was to feel comfortable being themselves, see LGBTQ+ staff who understood them and realize they were not alone.

LGBTQ+ teens face high barriers to behavioral healthcare and disproportionate mental health challenges. Health equity means meeting young people where they are and creating spaces that reflect who they are. We care, and we're here to help. 💚

Learn more about Polaris here: https://garfieldparkhospital.com/treatment-services/specialty-programs/polaris-program/.