A new crisis center has opened on the southside of Indianapolis, offering immediate psychiatric care and intervention to adults experiencing a mental crisis. The center, operated by Adult & Child Health, aims to provide a safe, comfortable, and monitored care environment for individuals in crisis.
Previously, people suffering from a mental or behavioral health emergency often had limited options, with desperate loved ones taking them to the hospital or calling the police for help. Neither of these options effectively solves the problem, often pushing the issue off for another day.
The crisis center offers services ranging from crisis therapy to referrals and connection to care to peer support. The center’s crisis stabilization program provides a protective place for adults experiencing a mental crisis.
Jim Engmark, a crisis intervention deputy for the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, stated that the center will help break the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Dr. Christine Negendank, chief medical officer for Adult & Child Health, added that the center will offer a lifeline for individuals in crisis and peace of mind for their families.
The crisis center has been funded through a $500,000 Vitality Grant received from Mental Health America of Indiana and the city of Indianapolis. The center is now open from 2 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Monday, with the last referral accepted at 8:30 p.m. To be admitted to the center, individuals must be 18 years old or older, medically stable, have a blood alcohol content of .029 or below, have the ability to safely receive care in a voluntary treatment environment, have the ability to perform activities of daily living independently, and must have their own guardian, or have an appointed guardian available upon arrival.
Adult & Child Health has been a leading provider of behavioral health services in central Indiana since it was founded in 1949. The organization provides a wide array of services, including primary care, case management, therapeutic foster care services, and homeless outreach, with offices in the region, including Franklin, Whiteland, and the southside.
The crisis center is part of Adult & Child Health’s efforts to align with guidelines in creating a crisis continuum to provide different facets of care. Their 24/7 mental health support line gives people in crisis someone to talk to, while mobile crisis teams provide someone to respond and connect people with the appropriate resources. The crisis center gives people a protective place to go.
Organizers are taking a “living room” approach to the crisis center, with a focus on individualized support and services from a peer recovery specialist, a masters-level therapist, and an advanced practice registered nurse. The center aims to divert individuals away from emergency room care and link them to resources in the community.
