Carrier Clinic in Montgomery is currently undergoing a $40 million construction project to address the growing number of children and teenagers facing mental health challenges. The Hackensack Meridian Health inpatient facility, renowned for their psychiatric treatment and substance use rehab services, is constructing a new 43,000-square-foot addition that will feature 52 inpatient rooms, a family resource and support center, and an academic teaching center.
With these new facilities, the clinic will be able to lower its minimum treatment age from 12 to 7 and enhance their educational programs for physicians and other mental health professionals. During the groundbreaking press conference, Dr. Eric Alcera, Chief Medical Officer at Carrier Clinic, emphasized the importance of addressing the mental health issues that families and children in New Jersey are facing. He stated that the new facilities will provide greater opportunities to help children heal and potentially save lives.
According to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Surgeon General’s Office, there has been an uptick in anxiety and depression rates among children and teens even prior to the pandemic. More than 20% of young individuals between the ages of 13-18 have encountered a significantly impairing mental illness at some point. This expansion at Carrier Clinic is expected to provide much-needed resources for addressing these mental health challenges.
Funding for this project was secured through a combination of state grants and private donations. State Senator Andrew Zwicker and Assemblyman Roy Freiman secured $10 million in state grants for the project while the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation donated a $10 million grant in March. This financial support will play a crucial role in expanding Carrier Clinic’s capabilities to provide crucial mental health services to children and adolescents in need.
The construction of this addition at Carrier Clinic is expected to improve their ability to support youth in crisis, especially those struggling with anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts,
