LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — Bringing mental health resources closer is the goal of two new walk-in crisis centers in Luzerne County.
Tara Fox is an administrator with Luzerne and Wyoming County Mental Health and Developmental Services. She says these centers will address several needs throughout the county.
"It will also be a stabilization unit where someone can stay for up to seven days just to stabilize rather than go to an inpatient facility," said Fox.
One center will be on West Market Street in Wilkes-Barre and will be run by the Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
The other one will be in Hazleton and will be operated by Northeast Counseling Services.
The centers will also serve as hubs for people who work in mobile crisis units and meet people where they're at—a service already in action.
"You could have someone come to your home. We could meet you at a park, the library, a fast-food restaurant—wherever you are most comfortable meeting with a crisis worker."
Fox tells Newswatch 16 that the goal of these walk-in centers is to keep people from seeking mental health help in the emergency room.
"I am not exaggerating when I say people could spend days if not weeks in the ER waiting for the most appropriate psychiatric help where, if we could avoid the ER, we could probably get them started in services much quicker," said Fox.
The walk-in centers are about a year away from opening, but county mental health staff are working to make sure the root of the issues are addressed now.
"What is unique about these two places is that police will be able to bring people to the centers rather than the ER, working with local police to make it fit with their needs so that we are not having individuals arrested or criminalized for their mental health issues," explained Fox.