HONESDALE, WAYNE CO. (WOLF) — With limited access to hospitals in rural areas like Wayne and Pike Counties, many experts say mental health can be overlooked.
This was the motivation behind the creation of a new crisis center in downtown Honesdale.
In 2022, the Wayne County Office of Developmental Programs and Early Intervention was accepted for a nearly six-million-dollar grant.
That acceptance was just the start of the Northeast Regional Crisis Stabilization Center now located on Park Street in Honesdale.
Partnering with Carbon, Monroe and Pike health and developmental services, John Nebzydoski, behavioral director for the Wayne County Office of Developmental Programs and early intervention, says the new center will serve as an urgent care, for mental health.
“We’re hoping that people that are in reasonably good fiscal health can come here, get their mental health needs met, rather than having to go to the ER,” he said.
Once it opens, the first floor of the building will be open 24/7 to those in need of mental health services, an essential service for those in need according to Victoria Toomey, outreach coordinator, for the Center for Community Resources.
“We’ll meet with them and kind of help point them in the right direction and we’ll assess if they think a safety plan can be made to go back in the community or if they think they might need a little extra support, and then a referral to our upstairs program could be made,” said Toomey.
The initial assessment and 24-hour resources are available to all, free of charge, and the voluntary upstairs crisis 5-day stay will accept Medicare and Medicaid.
“There will be a licensed nurse practitioner, there will be access to a psychiatrist and therapist. There’s also a really cool peer to peer program. So we will have certified peer specialists here that have that lived mental health experience that can connect with the people who are here,” said Toomey.
With amenities like showers, washers and dryers, family visit rooms and a quiet room, the center aims to ensure a comfortable experience, while undergoing treatment.
“I think that no matter who you are or what you’re going through, you should be able to access that care if you need it,” said Toomey.
The building will be welcoming the community to tour the new facility on Friday December 12th at noon.
An official opening date for the facility has not been set, but those at the center anticipate an opening in the weeks following the open house.
If you or someone you know is in need of mental health support, click here.