New mental health facility completed in Polson
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POLSON — Supporters packed the lobby for the opening ceremony and ribbon cutting of the newly completed Lake House. The need for a community based, 24 hour emergency mental health crisis and stabilization center in Lake County was palpable. Located across the street from St. Joseph Medical Facility, the Lake House is a part of Western Montana Mental Health Center’s cluster of facilities that offer care. Collaboration between legislators, Lake County officials, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and many other organizations contributed to the process that led to the construction of the $1.1 million facility.
The Lake House has six voluntary beds and two secure beds for patients requiring 24-hour attention.
Before the Lake House was constructed, there was no appropriate place to take people requiring immediate mental health assistance. Too often, a person needing help was taken by handcuffs to the Montana State Psychiatric Hospital in Warm Springs, put in jail and released, or taken to the emergency room, all of which remove the patient from their established support structure and often does not address the root cause.
“It’s a blessing. There haven’t been a lot of resources and this provides a tool,” said Polson Police Chief Wade Nash. “People need help, not to be locked up.”
Bi-partisan support in the legislature for such facilities contributed to some of the funding for the house.
“We’re making significant funding improvement to mental health infrastructure in Montana,” said Governor Steve Bullock, who attended the ceremony.
Land for the project was donated by St. Joseph’s Medical Center. Other funding for the Lake House came in the form of grants from the Greater Polson Community Foundation and Lake County Community Development Corporation.
Local citizens came together and recognized the need for such a facility. Many who spoke at the ceremony emphasized that mental health has effects on all, no matter race or demographic, and that collaboration was essential to complete the project.
“This is the first facility to include the Tribes. We were able to leave our ideology at the door and pursue solutions together,” said Kevin Howlett, director of Tribal Health and Human Services.
Construction of the facility was completed six weeks early. Opening of the eight-bed facility is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 21.
