PENSACOLA, Fla. — A free, student-run mental health clinic is opening soon in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The program links University of West Florida masters students with patients in need. Clients get free care, while students get the clinical hours they need to graduate.
Pensacola Mental Health Services’ — also known as PMHS — will be opening its doors to patients next month.
PMHS may be in its infancy, but its client base is already growing.
“With just a little bit of advertising, we’ve already filled the first two weeks,” said Kimbery Giryluk, founder and director of PMHS.
Giryluk is a licensed clinical social worker with 10 years of experience.
She says the fact that they’re already booked out until October is a testament to how necessary the free services are here.
As WEAR News has reported in the past, data from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office shows nearly 5,000 mental health calls in 2023 alone.
Also, individual therapy in Florida can cost hundreds of dollars per session.
“I see the need for people that cannot afford, or do not have insurance and can’t afford their co-pay,” Giryluk said. “So that was the inspiration, as there’s a big need out there for these services.”
Erin King is an associate professor of social work at the University of West Florida. She says it’s particularly difficult in Escambia County to find immediate mental health services .
“If you need to schedule an appointment with a therapist, but you’re a new client, you’re looking at a six-to-eight-month waiting list,” said King.
She says PMHS “could be very valuable for our community. The more qualified providers we have out there, the better.”
Students at PMHS will see clients ages five and up and help them with issues like depression, anxiety and trauma.
PMHS has openings in October — Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Click here for more information on Pensacola Mental Health Services.