(Photo by Gage Vota, featured in the Times) A groundbreaking ceremony is being held at the site of a future Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center in St. Clairsville. Pictured left to right: Coleman Health Services CEO Casey Osselborn, Coleman Health Services CEO Hattie Tracy, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, and Commissioner of Mental Health and Recovery. Association Executive Director Lisa Ward and Mental Health and Recovery Committee Chair Deb Yater.
CLAIRSVILLE, ST. — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine attended a groundbreaking ceremony last week at the site of a behavioral health urgent care center serving Belmont, Harrison, and Monroe counties, marking the start of construction and building anticipation. Ta.
The center will be a joint venture with Coleman Health Services, the Mental Health and Recovery Commissions of Belmont, Harrison and Monroe Counties, and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
“This adds a crisis stabilization unit to the community, as well as a 24/7 crisis assessment walk-in center and mobile crisis team,” said Hattie Tracy, president and CEO of Coleman Health Services. “It’s a great project, including the location.”
The facility is the first of its kind in the three communities and is part of DeWine’s $90 million investment to strengthen regional behavioral health crisis response services.
“We provide a variety of behavioral health services to local communities, treating substance use and related addictions, bipolar depression, trauma and stress-related issues, anxiety disorders, and more,” Tracy said. spoke. “We also provide other services such as obtaining benefits, housing, employment and other recovery support.”
DeWine said the groundbreaking was a historic day because he often hears about someone having a mental health crisis and not getting the care they need because of long wait times, sometimes up to two months. said. He added that the last piece of legislation President John F. Kennedy signed 60 years ago before he was assassinated was the Community Mental Health Act, which promised every citizen in the country access to mental health care.
DeWine said he believes the country has not lived up to its promise, but he is proud of the leaps the country and Ohio have made in mental health since then.
“We are pleased to have this taken on and we are really pleased to be able to move forward with this project,” he said.
Mr. DeWine would like to thank State Representative Don Jones (R-Freeport), State Representative Ron Ferguson (R-Wintersville), and State Senator Brian Chavez (R-Marietta) for their joint support of the project. expressed his intention.
“Today is a good day and a step forward for Eastern Ohio families. For the state of Ohio, this is another step forward. We are doing locations like this across the state. Build and man the But we’re making real progress,” DeWine said. “Our goal for all Ohio residents is to help them reach their full God-given potential; In order to reach your full potential, you need to remove barriers.”
A barrier he believes needs to be removed is the lack of treatment for people with ongoing addictions and untreated mental health issues. Without help, it will be very difficult for them to live to their fullest potential, and not only will they suffer, but so will their families, he said.
“This building represents hope,” DeWine said.
