Mercy Health-St. Rita's unveiled their new, state-of-the-art "Adult Behavioral Health Unit" on Friday.
LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Those struggling with mental health and addiction are often alienated and feel like they have nowhere to go for help, but Mercy Health-St. Rita's is taking a big step to change that narrative. Officials there unveiled their new, state-of-the-art "Adult Behavioral Health Unit" on Friday.
It's designed to help those in addiction recovery and those dealing with mental health and other issues such as homelessness and hunger.
It's designed to help those in addiction recovery and those dealing with mental health and other issues such as homelessness and hunger. The project took about 5 years from start to finish to complete and will mean new jobs for those in healthcare to staff the unit. It's the only adult behavioral health unit in a ten-county area, and Mercy Health officials are excited to provide a top-of-the-line facility.
It's the only adult behavioral health unit in a ten-county area, and Mercy Health officials are excited to provide a top-of-the-line facility.
"So what we can offer is we have more private rooms. We have enhanced safety features that we have not had before with the way the unit is designed. Over-door sensors. The way things are designed in a way to reduce any possibility that patients are going to be unsafe in an unsafe setting," explained Dawn Mansfield, director of nursing and adult behavioral health at Mercy Health-St. Rita's.
St. Rita's has also partnered with local organizations like Coleman Health Services, ArtSpace/Lima, and the Lima Symphony Orchestra to help provide therapeutic resources for patients.
"I think that we're going to spend many years helping people overcome the stigma of mental health. I think we get better over time, but I think we still have a long ways to go. I think projects like this and coming together with community leaders like this highlights the importance of it, and does one more step towards reducing the stigma around the mental health crisis, and really makes it okay to talk about things and to make sure that they know there are amazing resources available to people today," said Ronda Lehman, Lima market president at Mercy Health-St. Rita's.
St. Rita's has also partnered with local organizations like Coleman Health Services, ArtSpace/Lima, and the Lima Symphony Orchestra to help provide therapeutic resources for patients.
