A new facility in Butner, North Carolina, is set to provide urgent care for children and teenagers facing severe mental health and behavioral crises, addressing a critical need in the region.
Dr. Michael Zarzar, the medical director for UNC Hospitals’ recently established youth behavioral center in Butner, emphasizes the importance of serving these underserved children. He highlights the long-term complications that can arise when children do not receive the necessary support, often leading to involvement in the juvenile justice system.
With a 54-bed capacity, the youth behavioral center will aim to provide care to over 800 children each year. Dr. Zarzar’s goal is for children and teenagers to spend one to two weeks at the center before being discharged, with the hope that they won’t require further treatment.
The center will offer a structured routine, including various forms of therapy such as speech, group, and music therapy, in addition to a designated quiet room. It also includes a space for chapel services, ensuring a holistic approach to care.
The establishment of this facility addresses a pressing issue faced by parents like Andrew Sawyer, the director of Sustaining Hope for High Impact Parents (SHHIP). Sawyer’s own son experienced a behavioral crisis, highlighting the severe shortage of available beds for children with high-level mental health needs. This situation often leaves families in distress, unable to access the appropriate care, and sometimes requiring out-of-state solutions.
The youth behavioral center aims to remain operational even after UNC Hospitals completes the construction of a freestanding hospital in Wake County over the next eight to ten years. Its mission is to ensure that families with children in crisis receive the immediate care they need, preventing them from facing the prolonged challenges and hardships that result from inadequate mental health support.
