Скачать или смотреть New mental health crisis center opens in southeast Minnesota

(ABC 6 News) - The Minnesota Hospital Association says more than 500,000 adults in Minnesota have a mental illness, but only about half get treatment for it. State health experts are seeing this first hand.

"Oftentimes what happens is we count on our partners in law enforcement, or we count on our partners in the emergency department which isn't always the best avenue for mental health. Especially in a crisis," Robert Cunningham, Chief Operating Officer at Olmsted Medical Center, said.

10 counties have joined together with law enforcement and multiple healthcare organizations, like Mayo Clinic, to open the Southeast Minnesota Regional Crisis Center.

"When individuals walk into this center they're gonna feel that calm, warm, welcoming environment. But then on top of that they're gonna be greeted by a mental health practitioner," Nicole Mucheck, Executive Director of the Southeast Minnesota Crisis Center, said. 

The center has mental health professionals and fully trained nurses on standby 24/7. People in a crisis can stay in the center for up to 10 days - regardless if they have money or insurance.  The center has 16 beds, an exam room, and a sensory room for children experiencing a mental health crisis. 

"Our hope is that the SERC will be a model and a guide for the creation of similar mental health crisis facilities throughout our state and our nation," Stephanie Podulke, the chair of the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners, said.

Senator Dave Senjem co-authored the bill in the state legislature and says the effort was bipartisan. He got the idea for a crisis center back in 2018. 

"It's refreshing to see mental health care receiving the attention it deserves," Podulke said. 

The state already has money set aside to build two more crisis centers and hopes to build up to six new centers in the coming years. 

SERCC is located on the Olmsted County government campus at 2121 Campus Drive SE in Rochester.