2 days ago
Silver Hill Receives Transformational Gift
NEW CANAAN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Silver Hill Hospital, a nationally recognized leader in mental health care for adults and adolescents, is thrilled to announce a $5.5 million gift, the largest contribution in the institution's 94-year history.
This unprecedented gift marks a pivotal moment in the history of Silver Hill, empowering the organization to increase access to its signature, individualized healthcare and ensure clinical excellence advancing its mission to reduce suffering from mental illness and addiction.
The generous contribution was made by a family of past and current volunteers who wish to remain anonymous as they continue their involvement with the hospital. It will enable Silver Hill to further key initiatives through focused program investments, campus infrastructure enhancements, and community and neighborhood programs consistent with a recently adopted strategic plan ensuring accessible, clinical excellence for the future.
In addition to outright support for patient financial aid, patient wellness and employee growth, the contribution supports Silver Hill's long-term financial viability through its endowment.
'This magnificent gift was thoughtfully made by a family who understands Silver Hill's ability to heal and wants to make it accessible to more individuals in need,' said Richard Canning, Silver Hill Board Chair. 'Only half of the 50 million Americans who experience mental illness every year get treatment, and the quality of that treatment can vary wildly. The opportunity to be treated by experienced and empathetic professionals in a healing setting is a gift that we want to make available to as many people as possible.'
The right care at the right time
Silver Hill Hospital's 2025-2030 Strategic Plan recognizes that the rates of mental illness and addiction have risen over the past 50 years. And while there are new and effective treatments available, it is a challenge to connect those in need with the right care at the right time. 'We need institutions that can provide comprehensive treatment at all levels of care, train mental health professionals, conduct research, and advocate for public understanding,' said Andrew J. Gerber, MD, PhD, Silver Hill Hospital President and Medical Director.
'In other areas of medicine, this role has been effectively filled by academic medical centers,' Gerber added. 'However, since the 1990s, these institutions have suffered a dramatic reduction in psychiatric clinical services due to managed care pressures and inadequate insurance reimbursement. As a result, many top clinicians have moved to private practice, making it difficult for the most vulnerable patients to find the care that they need.'
Philanthropy's essential role
As a nonprofit, independent psychiatric hospital, Silver Hill is uniquely positioned to fill the void – providing access to care, sharing best practices through a program of research and education, and advocating for parity in mental health reimbursement. Philanthropy is essential to maintaining excellence, and this gift is a strong expression of support for the leadership and staff and a belief in the signature level of care that has made it one of the nation's top healthcare institutions.
'The donors believe deeply in the importance of high-quality mental health care and in Silver Hill's ability to deliver it,' Gerber said. 'We are extremely grateful for this cornerstone gift and hope it will be a catalyst to inspire further philanthropic investment in our vision of a world free from stigma and isolation where psychiatric care is accessible to all.'
For more information about supporting the Silver Hill mission, please visit or contact Tim Dougherty, Chief Advancement Officer at 203.801.2397.
About Silver Hill Hospital
Founded in 1931, Silver Hill Hospital is one of the nation's leading independent, nonprofit psychiatric hospitals dedicated to diagnosing and treating adolescents and adults with a broad range of psychiatric and addiction disorders. Located on an idyllic 44-acre campus in New Canaan, CT, Silver Hill provides inpatient, residential and intensive outpatient treatment with plans tailored to each patient's needs. At Silver Hill, twenty board certified psychiatrists work closely with licensed nurses, social workers, counselors, therapists, and other staff to deliver expert care with commitment and compassion. Through the Silver Hill Academy for Research and Education (SHARE), leading clinicians share best practices through Grand Rounds, blogs, videos, webinars, conferences and publications to reach thousands of practitioners across the country each year. A second location, Silver Hill New York, provides intensive outpatient treatment in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, and is piloting the only data-first mental health and addiction treatment program in the country. For more information, visit and our social media channels.
