Our Story
During World War II, a group of young Mennonite conscientious objectors staffed state mental hospitals. Through these experiences, a desire grew within them to respond to the mental health needs in their own communities. They believed that there had to be a better way to provide professional care for the mentally ill than the deplorable conditions they saw in these institutions.
Over the next decade, Mennonite mental health facilities opened across the United States. Philhaven was one of those centers, dedicated to providing the highest quality mental health services within a Christian environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
Philhaven's doors opened on May 7, 1952, as a 26-bed inpatient facility with outpatient and community education services. Over the next decades, Philhaven developed a continuum of mental health services for all ages at 27 locations throughout south central Pennsylvania.
Philhaven is now part of WellSpan Health, an integrated health system serving the region with more than 1,500 physicians and advanced practice providers, eight respected hospitals, 19,000 employees and more than 170 care locations. WellSpan Philhaven, a new organization formed from Philhaven and WellSpan Behavioral Health, is now south central Pennsylvania’s most comprehensive behavioral health organization. Since 1952, we have focused on treating the whole person – mind, body and soul. Services are available for all ages and various levels of care, including hospitalization, day programs, outpatient counseling, and services in the home, school and community.