HOFBH Partner Spotlight: Menninger

Published by: HOFBH

Located in Houston, Texas on a 50-acre campus, Menninger is a nationally ranked leader in the treatment of mental illness and substance use. In fact, for 30 consecutive years, the clinic has been named among the top 10 psychiatric hospitals nationwide by U.S. News & World Report. With an expansive history of excellence, Menninger will mark its 100th anniversary in 2025. Even with its impressive accolades, Menninger looks to continue to make an impact on mental health through changing the stigma and through innovations in research. 

As a Founding Member of Hall of Fame Behavioral Health (HOFBH), Menninger is excited to expand its efforts to break the stigma around getting effective care. Professionals at high levels, including pro athletes, are often faced with the fear that getting mental health care will create a negative perception of their ability to do their job. Additionally, many people fear the unknown of what it means to be in care and the potential side effects of medication used in treatment. To combat these fears, Menninger works to uphold its unique team-based diagnostic process and healing environment to deliver precision care. 

For starters, Menninger advocates for seeking care early and regularly just as one would care for their physical health with regular check-ups. Rather than waiting for problems to become something that can’t be ignored or an emergency situation, Menninger adamantly believes that mental health care should be easily accessible for everyone. Moreover, with the prevalence of mental health issues in society, it’s important to the clinic that people know that it’s not only okay to seek help and that it serves as a one-stop-shop for psychiatric wellness, making it easier than ever for a person to get the help that they may need. 

“Brain or neuroscience illnesses are extremely common in the United States,” says Jonathan R. Stevens, MD, MPH, Vice President of Growth and Innovation at Menninger.  “When I say neuroscience illness, I am referring to the 1 in 4 Americans who are currently suffering from or disabled by mental, neurological, and substance use disorders. However, even if we narrow our focus to conditions commonly referred to as ‘mental illness,’ nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental health condition (51.5 million in 2019).”

To help reach more people with a more personalized approach, Menninger is utilizing developments in both technology and medicine to assist its efforts. With the emergence of Telehealth over the pandemic, a full range of services including psychiatric evaluations, individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, virtual assessments, and medication management, are now available virtually. In addition, Menninger uses cutting-edge technology to help diagnose and recommend treatments that are personalized  to each individual. 

“Most of us are familiar with getting our vital signs checked during an annual physical. Well, these emerging psychiatric vital signs (measure of sleep, hopelessness, executive functioning, strength of relationships, impact on daily living and the severity of substance use) tell our clinical teams if the treatment team is working. And when it needs tweaking, the team can take immediate action. These data also provide convincing evidence to the patient and the family about the positive changes happening from the patient’s work during treatment,” adds Dr. Stevens.   

The team at Menninger also offers another layer of insight, even for those patients who say they have tried everything, and nothing has worked. From advanced brain imaging to personality assessments to neuropsychological tests, their team of neuropsychiatrists can help uncover even subtle brain changes that may affect a person’s mental health.

“Everyone on our mental health team comes together for the better of the patient. Just like in sports, there’s strength in having a well-built team where everyone plays their part,” says Dr. Stevens.

Menninger has treated many pro athletes and seeks to add to the platform by aligning with the standard of care that HOFBH embodies. 

“We are honored to welcome Menninger as a Founding Member of HOFBH,” says Ryan Cain Executive Vice President of HOFBH. “Their commitment to excellence through individualized plans is truly impressive. We know that they are going to help us with our mission of providing customized care to meet each individual’s needs.” 

The premier network of the HOFBH’s Centers of Excellence is comprised of vetted and accredited service providers throughout the country. To be selected as a partner, programs like Menninger must be dedicated to the wellbeing of the entire person, while focusing attention on key areas of total wellness common to athletes.

For more information on Menninger and HOFBH providers, please visit https://www.hofbh.com/centers or call the concierge call center and crisis line at 866-901-1241.