MiraVista’s Chief Medical Officer Encourages Summertime Vigilance in Youth Mental Health

HOLYOKE — Every teen is different when it comes to mental-health needs, but surveys continue to show many have self-reported extended periods of sadness.

Summer vacation, with its break from school routines, can usher in emotional struggles for adolescents missing friends and exacerbate a diagnosed mental-health condition. What behavior changes should a parent be aware of, and how should they be addressed? What treatment is available at MiraVista Behavioral Health Center, which offers inpatient acute psychiatric care to both adolescents and adults, and how do staff engage a teen throughout the day? What makes the services provided effective?

Dr. Negar Beheshti, chief medical officer at MiraVista and a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry, addresses these questions and others in an informative, 10-minute video, “Adolescent Mental Health Doesn’t Take a Summer Vacation,” which can be viewed on the MiraVista website at www.miravistabhc.care.

This video is part of MiraVista’s summer campaign, in partnership with the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, which addresses the need for vigilance when it comes to adolescent mental health and underscores the importance of recognizing and responding to changes in behavior, such as withdrawal from social activities, changes in sleep patterns, and shifts in mood or appetite.

At MiraVista Behavioral Health Center, comprehensive treatment options are available to support adolescents. Inpatient acute psychiatric care includes individual therapy, group therapy, and medication management. Staff engage teens throughout the day with structured activities, therapeutic sessions, and recreational opportunities, ensuring a holistic approach to treatment. The effectiveness of these services lies in the personalized care plans, the expertise of the medical staff, and the supportive environment that encourages healing and growth.

By watching Beheshti’s video and participating in MiraVista’s summer campaign, parents and caregivers can better understand how to support their teens’ mental-health needs during the summer months.

Additional resources provided in the campaign’s outreach for teens and families include the 988 Crisis Lifeline; the state’s Behavioral Health Helpline, (833) 773- 2445; and 413cares.org.