PENSACOLA, Fla. — A free, student-run mental health clinic is opening soon in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Pensacola Mental Health Services’ — also known as PMHS — will be opening its doors to patients next month.<\/p>\n
PMHS may be in its infancy, but its client base is already growing.<\/p>\n
“With just a little bit of advertising, we’ve already filled the first two weeks,” said Kimbery Giryluk, founder and director of PMHS.<\/p>\n
Giryluk is a licensed clinical social worker with 10 years of experience.<\/p>\n
She says the fact that they’re already booked out until October is a testament to how necessary the free services are here.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Also, individual therapy in Florida can cost hundreds of dollars per session.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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 .<\/p>\n
“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. <\/p>\n
She says PMHS “could be very valuable for our community. The more qualified providers we have out there, the better.”<\/p>\n
Students at PMHS will see clients ages five and up and help them with issues like depression, anxiety and trauma.<\/p>\n
PMHS has openings in October — Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.<\/p>\n