Nashville on ‘Unhappiest Cities’ List and Ft. Campbell Suicides Shed Light on Need for Behavioral Health Services

Independence Square Offers a Revolutionary new Type of Treatment for Behavioral Health 

June 15th, 2009 - Behavioral Health issues face many Middle Tennessee and Kentucky residents. Earlier this month, Business Week Magazine ranked Nashville-Davidson County 8th in the nation for being one of the nation’s ‘unhappiest’ cities.  The ranking was based Nashville’s depression, suicide, unemployment, crime and divorce rates. In addition, Ft. Campbell, KY, home of the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, earlier this month, and for the second time this year, closed the post following a rash of suicides.  Studies show that one in four American Adults will struggle with a diagnosable mental health issue in their lifetime.

Independence Square, located at Skyline Madison Campus, is now offering a revolutionary new “Treatment Mall” concept in the management of behavioral health by allowing individuals to participate in a normalizing approach to treatment.  “It allows patients to resolve a variety of different issues in a college curriculum type of setting while more closely imitating life in the community.  Patients participate in selecting an individualized daily schedule, ranging from four to five classes to meet their specific treatment objectives.  As patients achieve their treatment goals, they move out of one class and into another,” says Skyline Madison Medical Director Chandra Sastry, M.D.

Sastry says at Independence Square patients can interact with individuals, staff and therapists from other units; meet with physicians; have input on their personalized curriculum; and participate in multiple skill-based and psychotherapy classes.  He says some examples of classes at Independence Square include: Self Awareness, Self Esteem, Problem-solving, Illness management, Stress Management, Coping Skills, Support Systems and Communication Skills.

For more information about Independence Square, please call the OPTIONS help line at Skyline Madison Campus at 615-769-5678.