Wellstone opening first pediatric mental health crisis center in Alabama

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Wellstone's pediatric crisis care center is the first facility offering inpatient mental health care to 12 through 18-year-olds in the state.

Huntsville Emergency Medical Services (HEMSI) transports about 800 children in crisis out of Madison County each year, sending some out of the state to receive care.

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"Driving her up to Tennessee, across state lines, in the middle of a crisis that I never expected to experience, then turning around and leaving her there, is a moment I'll never forget," said Madison County mother Ryanne Baker.

Baker and her daughter did not have a care option in Madison County when they needed it.

"Just needing help during an unfamiliar and devastating time in our lives and not being able to get that help anywhere nearby was extremely isolating," Baker said.

Wellstone is opening a 24-bed pediatric crisis care center.

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"Typically it's going to be kids who have depression, may have generalized anxiety," said Wellstone CEO Jeremy Blair. "A lot of time it's thoughts of self-harm, and they need to go somewhere to have someone evaluate them. That's really what we're looking for, to stabilize kids very quickly and then return them to their homes."

Currently, these children and teenagers may end up in emergency rooms which are not always equipped to create treatment plans for them.

"We've seen such and increase in anxiety and depression among our kids, and then just the number of kids showing up in the emergency department for self-harm," said Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Kim Boswell. "For girls, that's increased 188%."

Wellstone does not turn away those in need, no matter their financial situation. Children and teenagers will be able to stay in the care center for up to 14 days, but shorter stays are expected for most.

"I hope that I will never need the use of this facility again, but my heart goes out to everybody who does walk through what we walked through," Baker said. "I'm so glad that they're going to be able to get help right here at home."

Wellstone's pediatric crisis care center will officially open its doors in the next few weeks.