Behavioral health access centers function as emergency rooms for mental health and substance use crises, offering walk-in access 24/7. Jerry Smith, treated for anxiety at the McKay-Dee Hospital’s Behavioral Health Access Center, credits the facility with saving his life. At age 78, a side effect from his heart medication sent him into a spiral of sleeplessness and inability to focus on daily tasks. After a couple of emergency room visits, he found the access center and met with mental health professionals who provided a tailored care plan.
Brooke Estes, a behavioral health specialist at the access center, explained that it functions specifically for mental health and substance use crises. Adults walk in 24/7 to meet with nurses, licensed therapists, and psychiatrists in an environment designed entirely with mental health needs in mind. “Even when you are in that state of crisis, when it may feel like there are no solutions or there aren’t people who care, there are many people who care, and there is reason for hope,” Estes said.
Smith reflected on his experience: “Many people go their whole life feeling like they can manage things on their own, and then something changes, and they need help. This facility is designed for people like me who need professional help. We hear the word ‘anxiety’ all the time, and I didn’t really understand that. And you don’t understand it until you’ve had it.”
Intermountain Health operates behavioral health access centers at McKay-Dee Hospital, LDS Hospital, and St. George Regional Hospital, with another scheduled to open at Alta View Hospital in June. These centers provide crisis intervention and ongoing mental health support to reduce the burden on emergency departments while ensuring immediate access to specialized care for those in behavioral health emergencies.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://us.headtopics.com/news/an-er-for-mental-health-how-access-centers-help-patients-83728595