A critical resource for mental health care in King County

[5 min read]

In this article: 

• Providence Swedish's Ballard campus is home to an inpatient psychiatric unit that offers around-the-clock medical and psychiatric care for some of the community's most vulnerable patients.
• The program serves-adults in crisis,-many-with-complex needs-such as substance use disorders,-chronic-medical-conditions, and mental health concerns during pregnancy.-
• The unit is part of Providence Swedish's commitment to the health and well-bring of every community we serve.  

In King County, demand for mental and behavioral health care continues to outpace available resources. For individuals experiencing serious mental health conditions, timely access to care can be difficult. Providence Swedish Ballard’s inpatient psychiatric unit helps-fill that gap by-providing-around-the-clock-care for some of the community’s most vulnerable patients.- 

The 22-bed unit is embedded within a full-service hospital, allowing care teams to-address mental-and physical health needs in one place. In 2025, the unit served-more than 700-patients and-provided-more than 8,500 days-of care. This level of demand reflects both the growing need for services and the unit’s importance within the regional care system.

The program serves-adults in crisis,-many-with-complex needs-such as substance use disorders,-chronic-medical-conditions, and mental health concerns during pregnancy.-Being in a hospital helps the care team treat all of these needs-in one place, improving continuity of care and reducing delays in treatment.- 

“Freestanding psychiatric facilities often can’t take patients with medical conditions,” said Sabrina Diffendaffer, RN, unit manager. “Being able to provide both medical and psychiatric care in one place is huge.”- 

A team of doctors, nurses, social-workers-and occupational therapists-work-to support each patient through the development of an individualized care plan.-This-generally includes-medication management, discharge planning and skill building, and-leisure-groups.-These treatment modalities-are holistic in nature and-allow individuals to feel connected and supported in their recovery journey.- 

Many patients rely on Medicaid or-struggle to-access-care-on their own-outside the hospital.-The-specialized-unit provides care no matter a person’s ability to pay, making sure people get help during critical moments. -- 

From-the moment patients-arrive to-when they leave, the focus is on safety,-support-and planning for what comes next. Each patient receives a full assessment and-help connecting-with-resources in the community.- 

“Inpatient behavioral health is about stabilizing the crisis and helping people safely transition to the next level of care,”-Diffendaffer-said. “We’re helping them build skills they can take with them when they leave.”- 

Access to mental and behavioral health-has been-identified as a pressing-need in King County-in-Providence-Swedish-Central Puget-Sound’s-latest-Community Health Needs Assessment.-The-inpatient-psychiatric-unit, along with related-community benefit programs,-is part of-our-Community Health Improvement Plan-to-expand-access-to care-for those-who need it most.-

Learn more and find a physician or advanced care practitioner (ACP)

If you have questions about behavioral health services, Swedish is here for you. Contact Swedish Behavioral Health and Well-Being. We can accommodate both in-person and virtual visits.

Whether you require an in-person visit or want to consult a doctor virtually, you have options. You can also connect virtually with your provider to review your symptoms, provide instruction and follow up as needed. And with Swedish ExpressCare Virtual you can receive treatment in minutes for common conditions such as colds, flu, urinary tract infections, and more. You can use our provider directory to find a specialist or primary care physician near you.

Information for patients and visitors

Additional resources

Learning how to build good boundaries can help you build great relationships

Can a video game help reduce PTSD symptoms?

Let glimmers of meaning bring shine to your life

Choosing a therapist: identifying your mental health goals and what to keep in mind

This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions. 

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. 

The Providence app offers world-class health care with human connection