BEHAVIORAL HEALTH UNIT HENRY MAYO AT A GLANCE

Established: 1975

Beds: 357

Staff: 1,799

Physicians: 598

Nurses: 576

Inpatients: 11,566

Outpatients: 124,763

Emergency department visits: 64,855

Babies delivered: 1,582

Community volunteers: 200+

Henry Mayo’s Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) provides high quality care to patients with acute psychological distress. The BHU treats a wide range of acute psychiatric illnesses, including major depression, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia, and is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of specially trained health care professionals.

In 2022, Henry Mayo nurses continued to work closely with psychiatrists, clinical social workers, recreational therapists, patient care technicians, case managers and a chaplain to develop an individualized treatment plan to best meet patients’ needs, with a multi-faceted approach to recovery and symptom management.

From the time patients walk into Henry Mayo’s Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) to the time they leave, Justin Muszalski, RN, PMH-BC, is hopeful their lives will undergo a transformative change.

As clinical coordinator of the BHU, Muszalski oversees more than two dozen nurses providing mental health services to adult patients with conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to bipolar and schizoaffective disorders. Most of them are admitted through the emergency room.

“The thing I like the most is seeing how these patients can change. They come in at their worst and by the time they discharge, they've completely changed,” he explains. “They're able to care for themselves and function. It’s even possible we’ve saved their lives.”

Before joining the hospital staff eight years ago, he worked in group homes and with day treatment programs for preschool children. “I’ve always been in mental health and transitioning into psych nursing allows me to use that experience,” says Muszalski, who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is completing an accelerated BSN program.