MOUNT VERNON — Behavioral Healthcare Partners (BHP) of Central Ohio celebrated the ceremonial groundbreaking for a new 24/7 mental health and addiction crisis center on Tuesday. The $4.5 million facility, the Knox County Behavioral Health Crisis Center, will be located adjacent to BHP’s outpatient center on Blackjack Road.
The 8,000-square-foot center will offer crisis stabilization services for adults and youth aged 12 and over. BHP CEO Kate St. James emphasized the importance of timely and accessible care. “We are committed to providing the right level of care at the right time and in the right place. Our neighbors are experiencing behavioral health crises, and the optimal solution is a nearby facility where individuals and families can receive specialized care from experienced staff,” St. James said.
The new center aims to provide rapid intervention in a supportive environment, serving as an alternative to waiting in jail or for a psychiatric bed. Kay Spergel, Executive Director of the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Licking and Knox Counties, praised the center’s role in offering hope and resolution. “This center embodies the concept of hope, offering a safe space where individuals in crisis can find help,” Spergel said. “Hope is the first step toward healing, and this center will contribute significantly to the overall well-being of our community.”
The facility will be staffed by a nurse practitioner, a psychiatrist as the medical director, counselors, and peer support specialists. St. James projects that the center will be operational by the fall of 2025, providing much-needed mental health and addiction crisis support to the community.
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