Silver Hill Hospital

The Silver Hill Foundation was established by Dr. William B. Terhune in 1934[5] as a "medical and psychotherapeutic unit to diagnose and treat functional nervous disorders".[6] Terhune was the founder of the psychiatric department at Yale University[7] and had promoted the idea that psychiatric patients not be treated differently than other patients with a medical condition.[8] The original facility was established as a non-profit, voluntary psychiatric hospital and was a member of the American Hospital Association. It could treat up to 60 patients at a time.[6]

In 1958, the foundation dedicated a community clinic building.[6]

It was located on the site of the former Silver Hill Inn as a setting to help patients described as "nervous, depressed, anxious, or malingering."[9] It was located in the Silvermine River Valley of Fairfield County, straddling the borders of Wilton and New Canaan, Connecticut.[10]

Starting in 1971, focus was placed on building the hospital's substance abuse program. By 1984, that program included a psychiatrist, an associate psychiatrist, a psychologist, substance abuse counselors, nursing staff, and a recreational and occupational therapist.[2]

The inpatient acute care unit was built in 1985[11] to provide treatment to patients whose mental illness call for constant supervision.[9]

In 2012, The Chronic Pain and Recovery Center program launched.[12] In 2015, both an eating disorder program for adults[13] and an outpatient opioid addiction program launched.[14]

The hospital's 42-acre campus includes former family homes acquired by the hospital's board over time.[11] These include:

• Scavetta House, which serves as a men's residential facility.[15]
• River House, a 1913 English Tudor style home that has served as a patient residence since the 1980s[15] and now houses the Dialectical Behavior Therapy residential program,[16] which helps patients diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder regulate feelings by charting emotions.[9]
• Klingenstein House, a 1920s guesthouse that now houses the Adolescent Transitional Living Program.[16][17][18]
• Terhune built a chapel on the property, which was later named in his honor.

In addition, Dr. Terhune built a chapel on the property, which was later named in his honor.[19]

• John Vernou "Black Jack" Bouvier, the father of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, spent six weeks at Silver Hill in the 1950s for treatment of alcoholism. During his stay, Dr. Terhune encouraged Bouvier to drink large amounts of water and take walks on the property to curb any urges to drink. Bouvier was told to avoid discussing his drinking with anyone, including close family members. Upon his discharge, Bouvier quickly returned to drinking.[20]
• New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia spent a month at Silver Hill in 2015 for treatment of alcoholism.[21] [22]
• Musician Billy Joel was admitted to Silver Hill for 10 days in 2002 to receive treatment and counseling for substance abuse.[23]

• Silver Hill Hospital website