PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — It’s a first in our area–an urgent care that addresses mental health emergencies.
“There’s no wrong door for treatment at Butler Hospital,” said Gretchen Anderson, senior clinical director of Ambulatory & Outpatient Behavioral Health at Butler Hospital.
It all begins at the main entrance on the Butler campus.
Some may need more intense critical mental health services. Those are provided here.
The new Express Center is open for those who need less acute care. (WJAR)
Then there’s its new Express Center–same door, but open for those who need less acute care.
“Anybody that is having symptoms of anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions. It’s really trying to help individuals come into a friendly environmental where they’re welcome,” said Anderson.
This type of care actually began a few years ago here as part of Butler’s outpatient evaluation center.
Now it is an actual Express Center with daily extended hours–like an urgent care–and advanced mental health professionals on hand.
It is improving access to care.
Butler Hospital launches an urgent care for mental health emergencies. (WJAR)
“I think it’s time that we really take mental health as serious as we do some of our physical specialties, like cardiology,” said Anderson.
Because one is as important as the other.
“The goal is for them to have a same day visit, get in it with medications, if indicated, they would see one of our behavioral health specialists,” said Anderson.
You can make an appointment or you can simply show up.
More intense critical mental health services are provided here. (WJAR)
“We really wanted to be able to have the opportunity for individuals to come and seek behavioral services in a really easy efficient way,” said Anderson.
The hours of the Express Mental Health Center is Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
It is open to those as young as 13 years old.