Mental Health & Psychiatry

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The Regional Behavioral Health Center of Excellence treats various psychiatric conditions. Here, our team partners with patients and their families to achieve improved quality of life and to support them through a variety of mental health and psychiatric disorders. We emphasize respect and care for the whole patient as key elements of our commitment to supporting better mental health. 

As the only Buffalo-area hospital offering a psychiatrist on staff in our emergency room 24/7, ECMC has the largest acute care psychiatric program in the region, serving adolescents, adults, and seniors alike. Our mental health and psychiatry facilities include: 

  • 132 inpatient psychiatry beds, including:
    • 16-bed inpatient adolescent unit 
    • 18-bed inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit
  • Six extended-observation beds (EOBs) 
  • CPEP—Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program  

We also offer outpatient services, including outpatient psychiatric clinics, to give patients the tools and resources they need to manage mental health issues and retake control of their lives. Learn about our Outpatient Behavioral Health Services.

Conditions & Diseases

The compassionate psychiatry and substance-use treatment specialists at ECMC work with patients facing a variety of mental health conditions and illnesses. Our experts treat an assortment of conditions on an inpatient and outpatient basis that include but are not limited to: 
 

  • Mood disorders, such as: 
    • Bipolar disorder 
    • Major depression 
  • Anxiety disorder 
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder 
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 
  • Schizophrenia 

Treatments & Procedures

At ECMC, we offer specialized mental health and psychiatric care on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. Some of the services we offer include: 

  • Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP)  
  • 24/7 acute psychiatric care 
  • Individual counseling 
  • Group therapy 
  • Medication therapy 
  • Medication management 
  • Mental health assessments 
  • ECT services 
  • Clozaril® (clozapine) clinic 
  • Mobile crisis outreach program 

We also offer specialized programs for patients diagnosed with both mental health issue and substance-use treatment needs: 

  • Dually Diagnosed Treatment – This service allows counselors to provide treatment to individuals diagnosed with both a mental illness and substance-use disorder. 
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment – This specialized treatment addresses the needs of patients who struggle with symptoms related to the dual diagnoses of PTSD and substance-use disorder.

Additional Info

LOCATION

The Regional Center of Excellence
for Behavioral Health
ECMC Main Building
462 Grider Street
Buffalo, NY 14215

CONTACT

Treatment Services
(Adult, Child & Family)
(716) 898-3776

Gero-Psychiatry Program
(716) 898-3169

Inpatient Treatment Services
(Adult & Adolescent)
(716) 898-3169

Emergencies Only
(716) 898-3465

Our Doctors

Michael R. Cummings, MD

Associate Medical Director

Yogesh D. Bakhai, MD

Chief of Service, Psychiatry

Annemarie L. Mikowski, DO

Psychiatrist

Balwant S. Nagra, MD

Psychiatrist

Bridget M. Rippe, PSYD

Allied Health Professional

Christopher D. Radziwon, PHD

Allied Health Professional

Elizabeth Lucaj, MD

Psychiatrist

Evelyn M. Coggins, MD

Psychiatrist

Jeffrey M. Lackner, PSYD

Allied Health Professional

Laura C. Hanrahan, MD

Psychiatrist

Susan S. Krasner, PHD

Attending Physician

Zhanna Elberg, MD

Psychiatrist

Additional Behavioral Health Services

Substance Use Treatment Services

ECMC’s inpatient and outpatient programs for substance use are designed to serve a variety of needs. All programs provide comprehensive medical and psychological treatment methods and are certified by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and The Joint Commission.

Learn More

Outpatient Behavioral Health Services

The Outpatient Behavioral Health Center works to provide safe, comprehensive care and integrated outpatient services to our patients and their families. In doing so, we hope to ensure that our patients are able to maximize safe and healthy participation within their community.

Learn More

ECMC Help Center

ECMC’s Help Center is a walk-in, urgent care service for the mental health treatment of adults in crisis. This service provides immediate support to those who do not require emergency psychiatric treatment or inpatient care.

Learn More

Virtual Help Center

For adults with urgent mental health needs who do not require psychiatric emergency treatment or inpatient care, schedule an on-demand video visit with a licensed mental health clinician.

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OnTrack NY at ECMC

For teenagers and young adults experiencing early and first-episode psychosis, it’s critical to connect with a treatment provider as soon as you realize there is a problem so they can receive the support they need. The OnTrack Program can help by providing services and support that inspire hope, resilience, and healing.

Learn More

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

The ECMC Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a structured, outpatient treatment opportunity that engages participants three days per week over four weeks. It serves as a step-down program for those individuals in need following completion of ECMC’s Partial Hospital Program (PHP) or can be a step-up from traditional outpatient programs for newly diagnosed patients.

Learn More