Inside Pediatrics Spring 2025

The Idea Behind the Nature Hall

Nature Hall Unit Features

The need for a behavioral health safe area like the Nature Hall became evident in 2019 when the hospital faced a record surge in emergency mental health cases. Behavioral health patients began occupying up to half of the ED’s beds, far exceeding the capacity of its original four-bed, behavioral-health-safe “pod.” This crisis prompted Children’s to repurpose an underutilized space within the ED, culminating in the creation of the Nature Hall. Now, children and providers both benefit from this state-of-the-art area dedicated to pediatric behavioral health patients. Both Moore and Jones attribute the rising demand for children’s mental health services to several factors, including social media influences, exposure to inappropriate content online, and increased societal

The Nature Hall is an inviting, colorful, safe psychiatric environment with hallway walls painted in bright colors and covered with paintings or photographs of flowers, animals, bikes, sailboats and beaches.

stressors. While these challenges existed prior to the pandemic, COVID-19 exacerbated the crisis. “People are now more willing to seek mental health care due

One of many art pieces in the Nature Hall, April the Giraffe is a favorite among staff and patients alike.

In the unit’s hallways, fluorescent lighting, which is often too bright and overstimulating, is dimmed to 50%. To help staff, the Nature Hall also has video monitors mounted on the walls of an enclave showing two camera angles for each room. This provides employees with additional monitoring for the patient and caregiver’s safety. Next to this enclave is a space designated for hospital security guards. This work area gives security a greater presence on the Nature Hall. caregiver’s senses, promote positive energy and distract from any intense emotions. The videos run 24 hours a day and are changed monthly to increase visual variations. “Feedback from Nature Hall employees showed that they gained the same benefit from these images as patients and caregivers,” Jones added. Throughout the unit, two computer monitors project images to engage the patient and

to reduced stigma, but this has created additional pressure on resources,” Jones explains. “However, part of the PIRC’s mission is to assist caregivers by helping them navigate what behavioral health services are available, match them with the appropriate services and resources in their communities, and educate them on what to expect while caring for their child.” Children’s of Alabama continues to refine its approach to managing pediatric mental health demands, demonstrating how targeted efforts address urgent public health issues. Moore says the improvements Children’s has seen since opening the Nature Hall highlight the impact of investing in specialized care for the most vulnerable patients. ●

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