Living Springs at Lourdes, a 21bed, hospital-based behavioral health program that opened last December to female military personnel will now provide services to male patients.

Located in Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, Willingboro, Living Springs at Lourdes provides treatment of conditions including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, alcohol and substance abuse, emotional trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder.

“When we originally designed Living Springs, our intention was to create a comfortable, safe environment where servicewomen, or the female family members of servicemen, could relate to each other during the recovery process,” explained Alexander J. Hatala, Lourdes Health System president and CEO.

“Since the program was launched, we have found there are a number of impediments that make it difficult for women to step forward to seek care.

So after careful consideration and planning, we have chosen to expand the mission of Living Springs to now include men to receive care in a separate track of treatment.”

According to Joanne Gianndrea, Lourdes vice president for military affairs, the first six months for the program have been an important learning period for the organization.

“While all indications are that there is a specific direct need for behavioral health services for military servicewomen, we have found that there are often barriers to women accessing care. For example, women find it difficult to seek care when they are the sole caregiver for the family,” she said.

As a result, Gianndrea noted, Lourdes leadership needed to consider how to maintain the integrity of the program while expanding the service to increase participation.

In the newly expanded program, men and women will be housed in separate sections of the private unit.

All patients benefit from a comprehensive treatment program that includes individual counseling and group therapy, which will be separated by gender. Dining facilities and the general relaxation areas will be co-ed.

Patients in both tracts have access to holistic treatment approaches, such as pet therapy and recreation therapy.

Each track of care will address the unique mental health and overall wellness needs of military service personnel, helping them manage challenges such as reintegration, the emotional process of adjusting to operating in a garrison environment after deployment to a combat zone.

“The expansion of the program allows us to include all service personnel, to help them receive the care they deserve,” said Hatala.