2023: Year in Review

In 2023, Skyland Trail expanded staffing and family programming for our adult programs and integrated new therapeutic modalities to help treat teens with complex needs. Community partnerships allowed for unique client experiences, professional training opportunities, and community education.

Adult Programs

A focus of 2023 was expanding our adult treatment team to meet increasing demand. Adding more experts has allowed us to serve more patients and offer additional programming.

Growing education and support for families was also a target. Families now have access to an expert Q&A within their first week. And a new family education series offers therapist-led, in-depth skills instruction in addition to our weekly STEP education and support program.

An alumni app launched in 2023 to improve connections among adult program graduates.

Adolescent Programs

Our adolescent program significantly expanded programming in 2023. In addition to our core DBT and CBT curriculum, the residential program now offers group programming for teens with secondary mild to moderate substance use challenges. And Prolonged Exposure Therapy at the individual level meets the specific needs of adolescents with trauma-related disorders.

And a new level system provides engagement incentives and a path to treatment success.

Education

Six webinars engaged more than 1,154 mental health professionals, educators, and caregivers

Presentations to Atlanta area schools, businesses, and civic groups reached more than 2,705 parents, students, and community leaders

Community Partnerships

Our psychiatry, research & outcomes, and education departments established new partnerships with Emory University, Georgia Tech, and Oglethorpe University.

New partnerships in 2023 with Atlanta nonprofit organizations – including the Georgia State Golf Association and Birds Georgia – are expanding patient enrichment opportunities, from educational bird watching in Atlanta parks to adaptive golf.

A partnership with Hope Homes Recovery Services is helping remove financial barriers to needed recovery residence services for adult day treatment patients.

Behind The Scenes

Our finance department added and expanded our insurance contracts, including a new contract with ComPsych, to expand access to treatment.

Our entire organization completed cultural equity training as part of the organization’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

MEET DR. BEN HUNTER

Skyland Trail announced the selection of Ben Hunter, MD, FAPA, as Charles B. West Chief Medical Officer in January 2024. In this role, Dr. Hunter provides leadership and oversight for all clinical services, research, and outcomes analysis and reporting. Dr. Hunter joined Skyland Trail in 2017 as medical director of outpatient services and served in the role of medical director of professional services from 2020 to 2023.

It’s an honor to step into this role and to collaborate with our expert team to help patients work toward healthy futures. The Skyland Trail community makes all the difference in promoting awareness, improving access to care, and removing barriers to life-changing treatment.

Ben Hunter, MD, FAPA

Charles B. West Chief Medical Officer

By the Numbers

2023 Impact

• 573 clients served

• 2,022 treatment days covered by financial aid

• 1,615 family therapy sessions completed

• 62 patients received transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) services

• 3,933 people attended community events

2023 PATIENT OUTCOMES

Reviewing data at the patient level helps us shape their treatment in real time. And analysis at the system level allows us to improve our programs year-over-year. As a whole, the data tell a hopeful story.

The majority of patients who complete our program return home with fewer symptoms and functioning better. They are well-equipped to continue working toward their goals in outpatient treatment.

Adult Outcomes

• 78% of patients experienced mild to no feelings of hopelessness at discharge

• 67% of patients who completed the program experienced mild to no depression symptoms at discharge

• 90% of patients reported positive feelings towards taking psychiatric medication at discharge

• 100% of patients who completed the program experienced remission in mania symptoms at discharge

• 65% of patients with severe anxiety at admission who completed the program experienced clinically significant reduction in anxiety symptoms at discharge

Adolescent Outcomes

• 86% of patients who completed Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy experienced clinically significant reduction in PTSD symptoms

• 79% of patients who completed the program experienced mild to no depression symptoms at discharge

• 59% of residential patients who completed the program experienced average or less anxiety symptoms at discharge