Women's Mental Health

Women’s Mental Health Inpatient Unit

The perinatal and perimenopausal years can be times of great vulnerability in a woman’s life. Transitions and losses during this time can cause stress and mental health challenges. NewYork-Presbyterian offers a newly renovated inpatient unit at NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health in White Plains, New York, for women facing significant mental health challenges. Launched in 2000, our Women’s Mental Health Unit is the only one of its kind in Westchester County and one of the oldest specialized programs in the nation. We focus on key events in women’s lives that may affect their mental health, including pregnancy and the postpartum period, pregnancy loss and infertility, mood disorders related to menstruation and menopause, and the psychological effects of trauma, abuse, or neglect. We conduct a thorough evaluation and tailor individualized care plans to meet each patient’s needs and improve her quality of life.

Specialized Inpatient Care

We provide comprehensive short-term intensive inpatient care for mental health concerns that are unique to women.

• The Women’s Mental Health Unit is a safe place for women to feel open and vulnerable so they can heal in a comfortable, supportive setting 
• Our team includes psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers who are trained in women’s mental health, including reproductive and perinatal mental health and trauma-informed care 
• We care for patients whose mental health problems would best be treated in a setting that is particularly sensitive to women’s needs 
• Access to consultation with OBGYN services 
• Collaboration with family, outpatient providers, obstetricians, or any additional support persons as requested

We Treat

Our team provides specialized care for women experiencing issues such as:

• Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)
• Postpartum psychosis
• Perinatal anxiety or OCD
• Mental health crises during pregnancy and postpartum
• Co-morbid Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
• Perimenopausal anxiety, depression, or mood disorders
• Major depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Schizophrenia

Treatment of Coexisting Conditions

We understand that women can have more than one psychiatric condition and are experienced providing care for multiple issues. Specialized psychiatric care is available for patients with mental health problems that are complicated by addictions, medical illness, or hormonal changes that influence mental health crises. Patients can receive all of their care in one center, with connection as needed to all of the world-class services available at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine.

Comprehensive Services

The Women’s Mental Health Unit features a comprehensive individual evaluation and offers evidence-based treatments, including:

• Group and individual therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy
• Art therapy
• Medication management
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
• Ketamine therapy
• ‎‎Lactation support and breastmilk storage during inpatient care
• Family support prior to discharge including family meetings and supervised child visits

The goal of our approach is to help each woman become stabilized so she can transition to the next level of care, such as outpatient care in her community. 

Refer a Patient

Patients are most often referred to us from an emergency department, other inpatient units at NewYork-Presbyterian, an outpatient mental health provider, or an OB/GYN. If you are interested in referring a patient, contact our Psychiatric Admission and Transfer Center at 888-694-5700. Our team is available 24/7 to take your call.