The University of Rochester’s Department of Psychiatry and Rochester metal sculptor Albert Paley are joining forces to support patients with mental health disorders and their families.
On Monday, Paley’s Portal, an eight-foot tall, steel sculpture, was placed in the atrium garden at the department’s clinical service, Strong Behavioral Health, 300 Crittenden Boulevard.
URMC officials say the piece which is made of weathered steel will inspire contemplation and add an even greater sense of dignity and warmth to the entranceway.
The chair of Psychiatry at the U of R, Dr. Eric Caine, said officials know it can be difficult to seek diagnosis and treatment for mental health disorders, and he says a welcoming environment can help diminish that stigma.
“We know it can be difficult to seek diagnosis and treatment for mental health disorders,” says Eric D. Caine, M.D., chair of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester. “We also know a welcoming environment can help diminish the stigma.”
Before being placed on long-term loan to the University, Portal was exhibited throughout Europe and the United States.
The URMC Psychiatry Department is considering options to commission a permanent piece for the atrium, which opens to visitors entering from the outside.
