Newport Hospital to Open Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit to Address Growing Crisis

Pearl Marvell • August 13, 2025

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for pediatric mental and behavioral health services has surged to crisis levels nationwide—and Rhode Island is no exception. 


For adolescents in Newport County, the situation has been especially dire, with no local acute care option for severe mental or behavioral health challenges. Until now, all of the state’s behavioral health beds have been concentrated in the Providence area—at Bradley, Hasbro Children’s, and Butler hospitals—forcing families in Newport County to seek urgent help off Aquidneck Island. 


Due to the lack of resources on the island, many families have relied on Newport Hospital’s emergency department. In 2022 alone, adolescents in crisis were boarded in the ED for 290 of 365 days, often waiting an average of 14 to 18 days for inpatient placement. These youth are among the most vulnerable, struggling with self-harm, aggression, or suicidal thoughts and behaviors. 


Recognizing this urgent gap, Newport Hospital is moving forward with plans for a dedicated Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit. The facility will be located on the hospital’s Sheffield 2nd floor and features six rooms and eight beds, including private and semi-private options. The space will undergo a complete interior renovation with substantial infrastructure replacements, advanced safety measures, and a secure outdoor garden for patient use. 


“It’s been almost a year in planning,” said Erin O’Dollard, Senior Philanthropy Officer at the Newport Hospital Foundation. “We’ve pushed the opening to January 2026 due to staffing challenges,” but, she said, they are well on their way to meeting the deadline in the New Year.  O’Dollard explained that treatment for children is different than for adults, and the hospital has been seeing 30 or more kids a day at times, which makes this support so necessary. 


The unit will offer care ranging from single-day treatment to long-term hospitalization. Upon discharge, ongoing dialogue with families will ensure continued support for individuals and their loved ones. Newport Hospital is also working to secure funding for partial hospitalization programs in partnership with local schools and social workers. 


The need is undeniable. Nationally, suicide became the second-leading cause of death for youth ages 10 to 24 by 2018. Rhode Island mirrors the trend: one in five children ages 6 to 17 has a diagnosable mental health disorder, and the Rhode Island Youth Behavioral Health Survey found persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in high school students rose from 25% in 2009 to 37.8% in 2021. Calls to Kids’ Link RI, the state’s behavioral health crisis hotline, doubled between 2019 and 2021.


The project is made possible thanks to community philanthropy. Dr. Jim Nolan and his wife, Peggy, provided the lead gift, inspired by a deep commitment to adolescent mental health. Funeral Director and Owner of Memorial Funeral Home Kurt Edenbach, also contributed to the construction and development of the ward. 


“It is important to have such a vital resource in our community, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Edenbach said. “We’re proud to be part of the creation of this resource.” 


With this new unit, Newport County’s youth will soon have local access to the specialized care they urgently need—offering hope, safety, and healing close to home. 


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