RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center
As a leader in mental health treatment in New Jersey, RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center, part of RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health services, opened in 1992 and offers patients, clients, their families and caregivers unparalleled access to a full continuum of behavioral health care services.
With a freestanding 100-bed psychiatric facility, we are able to seamlessly integrate behavioral health care and medical services by incorporating full-time medical physicians resulting in outstanding continuity of care—and positive, long-term results. From short-term psychiatric care to intensive outpatient programs, we provide a comprehensive array of behavioral health treatment for adults, and older adults, with a specialized geriatric unit complete with a geropsychiatrist. In addition to treating a vast array of mental illnesses, we also treat behaviors stemming from Alzheimer’s and dementia.
For patients diagnosed with both mental illness and substance use disorder, the Behavioral Health Center incorporates specialized programming and optional AA/NA meetings, including a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor to provide support, education and aftercare planning.
We work closely with physicians across all medical disciplines, together with Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, who look to the Behavioral Health Center for support services, treatment options, and as an adjunct to their patients’ plan of care.
Visiting Information
Visiting hours are as follows:
Visiting is available on all units seven days a week from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. One visitor is allowed at a time.
Please have a valid government issued ID, and leave all other belongings in your vehicle including pocketbooks and cellphones.
Patient belongings may be dropped off anytime.
Effective April 2, 2025, please read our new visitation guidelines before you visit.
In response to the stabilization of key respiratory viral benchmarks across RWJBarnabas Health and the region, effective Wednesday, April 2, masking will be optional at all RWJBarnabas Health locations for staff, providers, patients, visitors, volunteers and vendors.
Please note:
- Masking may still be required for certain patients on standard infection prevention protocols, and/or on units responsible for the care of vulnerable patients at the determination of each site.
- Masks will continue to be available to staff, providers, patients, visitors, volunteers and vendors in our facilities.
- Masking will be requested of all patients who present with respiratory symptoms, if tolerated, as well as all staff members and providers caring for them.
- Should a patient request their caregiver wear a mask, staff and providers are expected to comply.
While we expect the trajectory of respiratory viral activity will continue to move in this positive direction, we will remain vigilant in monitoring benchmarks and may adjust policies accordingly to ensure the safety of our workforce and communities. This could potentially include requiring masks again should we see increases in contagious respiratory viruses and/or communicable diseases moving forward.
As always, we encourage you and our communities to take steps to reduce the spread of contagious illnesses by remaining up-to-date with appropriate vaccinations and boosters; choosing to wear a mask if you aren’t feeling well and/or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, influenza and/or another contagious illness; and observing isolation guidelines when appropriate.
Thank you for your cooperation and your efforts to help keep our patients, staff and communities safe!