The History of BryLin Hospital: A Leader in Behavioral Health Care
Leonard Pleskow, Founder
BryLin Hospital has been a leader in behavioral health care in Upstate New York since its inception in 1955. The hospital offers short-term psychiatric stabilization for children, adolescents, and adults who are struggling with an emotional or behavioral crisis. BryLin provides comprehensive assessment, crisis stabilization, and individualized care that is evidence-based, person-centered, trauma-sensitive, and multidisciplinary.
The hospital also has a Center of Excellence for Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), which is recognized as the most rapid-acting, FDA-approved treatment for major depression and other mental illnesses.
The following is an overview of BryLin Hospitals’ early beginnings and our growth as the premier behavioral health care provider in WNY.
OUR HISTORY
1955– The Beginning of BryLin Hospitals – BryLin Hospital is founded by Leonard Pleskow and a small group of community psychiatrists. The Hospital was named the Linwood-Bryant Hospital for its location.
1958 – The hospital expands to include a two-story brick building, increasing its capacity to 65 beds.
1982 – Substance Abuse Services Grow – Certification was received from the Division of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse for 14 additional beds.
1985 – New Facility Opens – BryLin’s first outpatient clinic for the treatment of chemical dependency opened at 1275 Delaware Avenue. Rush Manor, a 66-bed inpatient facility for the treatment of chemically dependent adults and adolescents was opened on 36 acres of land in Alden, New York.
1986 – Meeting the Need – A 17-bed program was established to serve the special needs of geriatric psychiatric patients. BryLin’s outpatient clinic expanded and relocated to the Seton Office Building.
1988 – Keeping pace with change – On September 1st, the Williamsville Outpatient Clinic was opened to provide substance abuse treatment for adults and adolescents. The names Rush Hall and Rush Manor were changed to BryLin Hospitals Chemical Dependency Services and BryLin – Alden to reflect the comprehensive services offered.
1991 – Blending Expertise. BryLin Hospitals begins services for patients with a dual diagnosis of substance abuse and psychiatric disorders.
1992 – Another First. A 20-bed Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit was opened.
2002 – BryLin starts Acupuncture Program for Substance Abuse Services.
2003 – BryLin starts an outpatient program for professionals (healthcare, legal, law enforcement and business executives) seeking treatment for substance abuse problems.
2008 – BryLin develops a new approach to treating Adolescent Substance Abuse, adapting three tracks to meet the needs of the abuser, the addict, and the student athlete.
2009 – BryLin introduces new programming. A Women’s Programming for women who are experiencing psychiatric disorders related to emotional and/or hormonal disturbances. Treatment focuses on the unique needs of the female patient through individual and group counseling, pharmacological management, and psychiatric, physical and nutritional assessments.
2010 – On the heels of success with the Women’s Programming, introduced in 2009, new Men’s Programming was implemented giving men an opportunity to address the many challenges they are confronted with that can affect their functioning, relationships, work, and their ability to enjoy life. Treatment is provided in a safe, respectful, secure and structured environment which allows men to positively influence each other through our group discussions.
2011 – BryLin introduces alternative treatment options such as yoga, massage therapy, tai-chi, and drumming circles as part of the inpatient mental health programming schedule for adults which assist with stress reduction and muscle relaxation. These complement the existing array of programming options.
2013 – BryLin opens their outpatient mental health treatment clinic, in Williamsville, where assessment, crisis intervention, pharmacological treatment, and individual/group therapies are provided for adults 18 years of age and older.
2015 – BryLin Marks 60th Anniversary of Caring in Western New York. “Our energies are focused on having patient-centered care that brings respect and dignity to the patients and families we care for who are affected by mental health issues”, says Eric Pleskow, BryLin President & CEO
2016 – BryLin Hospital adds to the list of growing alternative therapies by adding Art Therapy to the programming schedule. Art Therapy uses art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore a patients feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and substance abuse, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem.
2017 – The Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition launched its cornerstone campaign of “Join the Conversation” on May 30, 2017. This Coalition is composed of founding members from 15 well known organizations, including BryLin Hospital, who came together in the pursuit of one common goal: to change how people in our community view mental illness in order to reduce or eliminate stigma in Erie County and Western New York. The website is www.letstalkstigma.org and its social media channels are on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Individuals can find facts, information, other people’s stories and experiences, resources and, of course, a place to join the conversation.
2020 – BryLin Expands Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services: After Eastern Niagara Hospital closed its inpatient Child and Adolescent Transitions Unit in November 2019, BryLin stepped in to meet the region’s growing need for youth mental health care. In February, BryLin applied for (7) additional beds – in March the NYS Office of Mental Health approved the expansion.
2021 – BryLin Hospital’s Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Program is recognized as a Behavioral Health Center of Excellence by meeting a set of national practice guidelines. “This Center of Excellence designation recognizes BryLin’s ECT program as demonstrating a level of excellence within a set of expected standards set nationally. “We’re very proud of this accomplishment”, said Eric Pleskow, President/CEO for BryLin.
BryLin’s COE in Electroconvulsive Therapy Program is designed to foster integrated, evidence-based approaches to prevention, early detection, and treatment of a multitude of mental health diagnoses.
2024 – BryLin joins the Crisis to Care Collaborative: When someone is experiencing a behavioral or mental health crisis, the right response can make all the difference. The Crisis to Care (CTC) Collaborative brings together leaders and partners from sectors across Erie County to build a more coordinated, compassionate, and effective crisis response system for our community.
“For over 70 years, BryLin Hospital has proudly served the Western New York community, advocating for and raising awareness about those experiencing behavioral health crises in our community. We are honored to be part of the Crisis to Care Collaborative, an initiative that perfectly aligns with our mission to provide exceptional care while advocating for the mental health needs of our community.”
— Eric Pleskow, CEO, BryLin Hospital
2025 – BryLin Hospital Celebrates 70 Years of Compassionate Care: BryLin Hospital, a pioneering inpatient mental health facility in Upstate New York, proudly commemorates its 70th anniversary this year. For seven decades, BryLin has been dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families across Western New York through exceptional behavioral health care and compassionate service.
“As BryLin celebrates its 70th year serving the WNY community, I’m filled with immense pride reflecting on our legacy of compassionate care,” says Eric Pleskow, CEO, BryLin Hospital. “Our dedicated staff, generation after generation, has laid the foundation for our success, earning BryLin its reputation as a premier mental health provider.”
With HELP, There’s HOPE℠
