Inside the exclusive, $A5000 a night mental health facility where James Packer is seeking treatment

CASINO mogul James Packer has checked into America’s most exclusive mental health facility, where he is being treated for ‘personal’ issues after leaving Crown.

WALKING slowly into one of America’s top psychiatric hospitals with his head bowed, this is the moment James Packer finally sought the help he needed.

Shortly after meeting his mother Ros Packer at Boston airport after her mercy dash from Australia, the 50-year-old checked into McLean Hospital in Belmont at 8pm on Thursday.

The troubled billionaire is understood to be receiving treatment in the facility’s 11-bed, $35,000 a week wing known as The Pavilion.

“The Pavilion is a one-stop-shop where you can go and get people with different medical backgrounds who can provide opinions and then offer treatment,” said Dr Hans Agrawal, a Harvard graduate who trained in psychiatry at McLean Hospital and now practices in Boston.

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James Packer arriving at The Pavilion, outside Boston. Picture: Patriot Pics/BACKGRID

Mr Packer received an outpouring of public support last week when he stepped down from his company Crown Resorts last week for “personal reasons” and to seek treatment for “mental health issues”.

He then travelled from the Mexican resort city of Cabo, where he owns a home, to meet his mother Ros, who flew from Sydney to Los Angeles on a commercial flight before taking a private jet to Boston.

The pair drove with an entourage in two black SUVs to Belmont, 15km west of Boston, where the hospital sits on landscaped grounds. Mr Packer wheeled his own luggage into the admissions building with his friend Guy Jalland walking beside him.

A witness said Mrs Packer appeared to be “in charge”.

“It seemed like she was looking after him, telling what he should be doing, and he was doing what she asked him to,” the witness said.

“He went into the hospital before her and she waited a few minutes before following him in.” Mrs Packer left the hospital for a hotel in the city three hours later.

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A witness said Ros Packer seemed to be ‘in charge’ during James’ admission to the facility. Picture: Patriot Pics/BACKGRID

McLean Hospital is consistently ranked one of the country’s top mental health facilities, was one of America’s first asylums and has treated several luminaries who have written about their experiences there.

Boston Globe journalist Alex Beam, who wrote the book Gracefully Insane: Life and Death Inside America’s Premier Mental Hospital about McLean described The Pavilion as “a super exclusive part of McLean”.

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“They market to high net worth individuals from overseas — for America it’s the top of the line. Even Harvard professors and students are treated there,” he said.

“They have a lot of overseas clientele at enormous overnight fees. They have Saudis there and other affluent people from overseas.

“The Pavilion is extremely small, extremely expensive inpatient facility, arguably the best mental health care in America. It’s at a very, very high level and tiered by money.”

The ultra-exclusive mental health facility has treated big names in the past — and featured in a number of Hollywood films. Picture: Patriot Pics/BACKGRID

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Despite its stellar reputation, McLean is not on the usual celebrity rehab circuit.

“McLean is a medical facility and not a fake medical facility like some of these spas in Arizona. Harvey Weinstein would not fit in there,” Mr Beam said.

“This is the real deal. People with real life drug problems or mental breakdowns are treated there.

“They also treat eating disorders.

“It’s for people who can spare no expense. It’s not where you hide out from the paparazzi or to avoid a judge — it’s a medical facility.”

Considered a high-end option, which regularly advertises in publications such as The New Yorker, McLean’s former patients include the poet Sylvia Plath. It also featured in the memoir of mathematician John Nash which was made into the film A Beautiful Mind with Russell Crowe, and the movie Girl, Interrupted with Angela Jolie and Winona Ryder.

Packer has sought treatment after revealing his struggle with an unspecified mental health issue this week. Picture: Patriot Pics/BACKGRID

Some question the expense and effectiveness of the treatment, including Boston novelist John Sedgwick, whose elderly mother, Emily, was treated there.

“My mother suffered from severe depression and life became untenable for her,” he said.

“Their approach is close monitoring. It’s a place to go when you really can’t manage on your own. It’s the sense of protection. She was vulnerable and when the depression hit she didn’t know how to handle it.

“It’s got extensive grounds. It’s basically a hospital. It’s an incredibly expensive place. It is the pre-eminent facility in Boston but I question their reputation. I would hope for $55,000 that they would deliver the goods.”

Dr Agrawal — who is not treating Mr Packer — said the program at The Pavilion offered “mixed results”.

“It appeals to people who have the money to spend given the plurality of the models that exist for illness — some people think it's a psychiatric issue or developmental problems from growing up with authoritarian parents,” he said.

Ros Packer flew out of Sydney on Thursday after James revealed his struggle on Wednesday. Picture: Patriot Pics/BACKGRID

“It has mixed results. It’s probably not worth the money. This is an explosion of tests that aren’t necessary from the outset. If you’ve got the money to spend you want Harvard Medical School experts to weigh in on all possibilities.”

According to McClean’s website, The Pavilion is offered to international clients and charges$US55,300 ($72,000) for “all-inclusive, for a 14-day stay”.

“Treatment begins upon admission, including medication management, behaviour therapy, individual therapy, family therapy, 24-hour nursing care, and group therapy as prescribed,” the website says. There is access to a fitness centre, sports club and private chefs.

“When appropriate, neurotherapeutics (ECT/TMS) are initiated as soon as possible for the management of treatment-resistant depression.

“McLean Hospital offers a customised service that guides international clientele through the hospital’s premier programs, beginning with a confidential and comprehensive evaluation at The Pavilion and continuing through specialised treatment as needed — all with careful consideration of cultural and family issues.”

DO YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, NEED HELP?

Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 for 24-hour Australian counselling services.

Beyondblue (1300 22 4636) for 24-hour phone support, online chat, resources and apps.

Packer pictured with his then girlfriend Mariah Carey in October 2015. Picture: AFP / Philippe Lopez