Renown Health is launching a new confidential mental health service designed specifically for healthcare professionals and first responders who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
The new program, called Code Phoenix, is now available through the Renown Crisis Care Center in partnership with the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health. The goal is to provide a safe and private path to short term mental health stabilization for people who routinely face trauma, high stress and life or death decision making.
Leaders at Renown say the program was created out of a deep understanding of the emotional and physical demands placed on physicians, nurses, paramedics, dispatchers, firefighters, police officers and other emergency personnel. Dr. Takesha Cooper, chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences for Renown Health and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, says Code Phoenix is designed to remove barriers that often keep people from getting help. She explains that concerns about confidentiality or the fear of being judged can prevent professionals from reaching out. Code Phoenix is built to counter that by offering privacy and respect from the first phone call to the last step of care.
Dr. Rahul Mediwala, CEO of Renown Medical Group, says the program arrives at an important time. The holidays can amplify stress, and many first responders and clinicians carry burdens they never talk about. He notes that Renown wants these community partners to know they do not have to face trauma or exhaustion alone and that support is now closer than ever.
The Crisis Care Center, located at 480 Galletti Way on the former Dini Townsend campus, already provides mental health stabilization services for adults in crisis.
Code Phoenix adds layers of privacy and comfort specifically for healthcare and emergency workers. Patients enter through a secure back entrance and are escorted to a private room away from public areas. They may also check in under an alias to protect their identity. The name Code Phoenix was chosen because the phoenix represents resilience and renewal. Dr. Bill Plauth of UNR Med says it symbolizes rising again through support and strength.
Renown leaders say the program also helps break the silence that often surrounds mental health challenges in high stress professions. Jimmy Lao, Director of Nursing for Emergency Services, says people who are used to helping others sometimes struggle to ask for help for themselves. Providing a compassionate and culturally informed environment can make it easier to speak openly and begin healing.
A central feature of Code Phoenix is peer support. Every participant has the option to work with someone who has lived similar experiences, whether that is a nurse, EMT, firefighter, behavioral health specialist or law enforcement professional. Dr. Cooper says peer support can be a lifeline because it creates a relatable space where people can be honest about what they are feeling. Knowing that the person across from you understands the emotional toll of the work can break down stigma and make it easier to seek care.
The process is simple. Individuals call 775 982 HELP and state that they or a colleague need a Code Phoenix. Staff then guide them through discreet arrival, private check in and confidential assessment. Services at the Crisis Care Center include 24 hour crisis observation, stabilization, psychiatric evaluation, coordination with community resources and access to peer specialists. Care is available with or without insurance and financial assistance is offered for those who qualify. If medical attention is required, transportation to an emergency room is provided.
The Crisis Care Center is not an emergency room. People experiencing an immediate mental health emergency should call 988.