Gala to Honor Carrie Fisher

This year, our Fundraising Gala will honor Carrie Fisher, Grammy and Emmy nominated actress, author and Silver Hill alumna.

With her honest examination of her own mental illnesses, laconic wit and deadpan humor, I am certain the evening not only be an incredibly entertaining and successful fundraiser, but a heartfelt discussion of mental health progress and challenges in the U.S.

Honoring this Silver Hill alumna, who has overcome her own addiction and mental illness, speaks to the success of treatment programs like ours. Fisher’s tremendous recovery underscores the fact that millions of affected Americans could lead productive, healthy lives if treatment was made available.

To that end, the money raised from the gala goes to scholarships for patients who need our long-term Transitional Living Programs, but are not able to cover the costs themselves.
 
Acute Care and Transitional Living Programs
Silver Hill has a two-phase approach for patient care:

The first is Acute Care for crisis stabilization — be it for acute depression, attempted suicide, detox, an eating disorder, or any other psychiatric crisis. It typically lasts five to ten days and is covered by insurance.

Transitional Living Programs is our next phase. These intense psychological programs are designed to help patients transition to life outside the hospital. Our clinical staff works closely with both patients and families to bring about lasting behavioral change. We fundamentally believe these programs are essential for complete recovery. The minimum stay is four weeks. Our recently renovated Scavetta House for Men is an example of where patients stay when in a Transitional Living Program.
Silver Hill is a Not-For-Profit Hospital
The average cost of the Transitional Living Program here is about $30,000 — not at all the most expensive treatment program in the country. Last year’s gala raised over $1.3 million and we have given out 46 scholarships to cover 25-100 percent of the cost. Silver Hill Hospital is a not-for-profit institution. There are no shareholders. Every dollar we raise goes directly into scholarships and development of new, leading psychiatric programs.

I am so pleased Fisher is our honoree this year. She is an example of what we can do to help people with mental illness. I admire her greatly and appreciate her willingness to help Silver Hill. I know that because of her we will be able to make a difference in the lives of many.