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SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah Health is expanding its mental health services in hopes of helping people across the Salt Lake Valley.
Huntsman Mental Health Institute Reception Center It reopened to the public on Monday after being closed to increase capacity. Funding from Salt Lake County made this expansion possible.
The center is located on the University of Utah campus at 501 Chipeta Way in Salt Lake City. It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, not only to students but to anyone who needs it.
“The intake center has been around for a number of years, but previously we only served about four to six people at a time,” said Nikki McCorristin, a nurse and clinical supervisor at the centre. he said.
McCorristine said they can now accommodate 12 patients at a time.
“We can provide a chair and a pillow, food and someone to talk to. No problem is too small,” McCorristin said.
Additionally, the center is expanding its services.
“Previously, we weren’t able to take care of drug-using patients because we didn’t have 24-hour observation services in our space, but now we can,” McCorristin said.
The center will seek to divert people who do not meet the criteria for an emergency or inpatient unit visit but still need help.
“We have 23 hours to talk to them, to calm them down, to stabilize them, to think about what’s best for them and to find their own path to recovery,” McCorristin said. ” he said. “If you just need the resources, you might want to change your medication, renew your prescription, or try something new.”
Instead of taking someone to jail or the emergency room, the center allows law enforcement to bring in people suffering from mental health crises. Inpatient services may be recommended for patients who require observation for more than 24 hours.
“We hope they bring it to us. If there’s any doubt, we want them to bring it to us,” McCorristin said.
The center will be a “stepping stone” to a new mental health crisis center under construction.
“We want to use this reception center model to solve the problem so that when we open a new hospital, we can admit people to this hospital.”
The hospital, named after donors Kem and Carolyn Gardener, is scheduled to open in 2025.
