Lake County funded to plan, design new psychiatric crisis stabilization facility
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
POLSON — Lake County has been awarded $125,000 from the Montana Department of Health and Human Services to plan and design a new six-bed psychiatric stabilization facility. The new program will fill a gap in mental health services for Lake County.
The state has recognized the need for this program in Lake County, according to County Commissioner Gale Decker. Decker also praised the collaboration of Providence Health and Services/St. Joseph Hospital, Salish Kootenai Tribal Health Services and the Western Montana Mental Health Center for working with the County to bring the new facility to Polson.
The program will provide both voluntary psychiatric crisis stabilization and emergency detention for those who are in need of 24/7 care but currently must go to Kalispell, Missoula or the State Hospital in Warm Springs. Community-based care is essential for the wellbeing of all members of the community. The new program will fill a gap in mental health services for Lake County.
Two community meetings about the program will be held Thursday, Nov. 7. The first meeting will be held from 2-3 p.m. in at the Victor Charlo Theater at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo. Another meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the Byrnes Conference Room at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, 6 Thirteenth Ave. East, Polson.
Questions may be directed to Patty Kent at (406) 532-8414 or Gale Decker, Lake County Commissioner, at (406) 883-7204.
