Guilford County Organizations Collaborate On Mental Health Care Center

Community organizations and stakeholders in Guilford County are collaborating to provide an integrated mental health center which will address physical, mental, and substance abuse issues.

The partnership is called Guilford County Behavioral Health Crisis Collaborative, and it involves Cone Health, Guilford County Commissioners, and Sandhills Center.

The plan is to build a mental health urgent care center and two 16-bed crisis centers, one for adults and one for adolescents and children.

Debbie Cunningham, president of Women's Hospital and Behavioral Health Hospital with Cone Health says many mental health patients currently end up in a hospital emergency room, which can exacerbate a crisis. The new center aims to get help to these people more quickly.

“We'll be staffed there with psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychiatric nurses, and social workers who can take care of the patient immediately in a very calm, and kind, and holistic manner,” she says.

A site has been chosen and now partners are working to design the facilities. Cunningham says the goal is to open within 24 months.