Why Riverside Is Updating Inpatient Behavioral Health Spaces

Many people picture old movies when they think of inpatient behavioral health. Dark rooms. Locked doors. Restraints. April Balzhiser, Director of Inpatient Behavioral Health at Riverside, wants to clear up that image. She also wants to share the exciting changes coming to Riverside's units. Here, she discusses the updates being implemented.

Clearing Up a Common Misconception

“The biggest misconceptions that I still hear today come from old movies,” notes Balzhiser. Those films made psychiatric care look scary for ticket sales. The reality looks very different. Modern inpatient behavioral health is a safe, voluntary, and team-based short stay. It uses proven therapy, group counseling, and medical support to help people heal.

How Care Has Changed

Keeping patients safe remains the top priority. But, care does not stop there. “Once someone is safe, we then do want to promote true healing from the inside out,” Balzhiser explains. Behavioral health is health. Taking care of the mind helps the whole body too.

Who Might Need Inpatient Care

Safety is the biggest factor in deciding if someone needs a higher level of care. This includes worries about a person keeping themselves or others safe. It can also include someone unable to do daily tasks like bathing or eating due to their mental state. Sometimes, a short inpatient stay keeps a person safe while a doctor makes bigger changes to medication.

Why the Physical Space Matters

Surroundings affect mental health just like they do at home. Clutter, poor lighting, and isolation can all make someone feel worse. “Our surroundings matter to mental health and our overall wellbeing,” reinforces Balzhiser. That is why Riverside is building new, more thoughtful spaces.

What's New in the Units

One standout feature is circadian lighting in the hallways. This lighting copies natural daylight patterns and brightens during the day. Then, it dims as evening comes. Such a strategy helps support healthy sleep and clear thinking, even indoors.
Another feature uses decorative pillars shaped like trees. These are paired with cloud-like ceiling panels made of sound-absorbing material. Together, they help cut down noise and overstimulation. The result is a calmer space, much like noise-canceling headphones.

A Meaningful Investment in the Community

Across the country, many hospitals have cut or ended behavioral health services. This type of care is often not very profitable. Balzhiser sees this as a real loss. This is especially true since the pandemic changed how people think about mental health.
“Behavioral healthcare is healthcare,” she states. When someone isn't feeling mentally well, they often skip doctor visits. They avoid social activities. They pull away from their community. Supporting mental health, she says, builds a stronger, healthier community overall.

A Message of Hope

Balzhiser wants everyone to remember one thing. We all fall somewhere on the mental health spectrum. “Most of us are really just one job loss, one relationship loss, one death away from needing mental health care or support,” she offers. There is no shame in asking for help. This is true whether you need it for yourself or someone you love.
Anyone needing support can call Riverside's Central Intake Department at 844-442-2551. Help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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