Wellstone’s pediatric crisis care center in Huntsville, Alabama, has become the first facility in the state to provide inpatient mental health care exclusively for adolescents aged 12 to 18 years old.
Huntsville Emergency Medical Services (HEMSI) transports approximately 800 children in crisis out of Madison County annually, with some being sent out of the state to receive the necessary care.
“I’ll never forget the moment when I drove my mother up to Tennessee, crossing state lines, in the midst of an unexpected crisis, and then had to leave her there,” shared Ryanne Baker, a mother from Madison County.
When Baker and her daughter were in need of care, they couldn’t find any options available in Madison County.
“It was incredibly isolating to be in such a unfamiliar and devastating time in our lives, desperately in need of help, and not being able to find it anywhere nearby,” Baker expressed.
Wellstone is set to launch a pediatric crisis care center with 24 beds.
According to Jeremy Blair, CEO of Wellstone, the children who usually seek their services are those suffering from depression, as well as those who may have generalized anxiety. These kids often have thoughts of self-harm and require immediate evaluation. The main goal of Wellstone is to provide quick stabilization for these children and eventually return them to their homes.
Currently, these children and teenagers often find themselves in Low priority rooms, where the medical staff may not have the necessary expertise to develop appropriate treatment plans for them.
According to Kim Boswell, the Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health, there has been a significant rise in anxiety and depression among children, leading to an alarming number of self-harm cases in the emergency department. She states that the number of girls seeking emergency treatment for self-harm has increased by 188%.
At Wellstone, we believe in providing care for everyone, regardless of their financial situation. Our care center welcomes children and teenagers, offering them a safe haven for up to 14 days. However, most individuals will likely require shorter stays.
“I hope I never have to use this facility again, but my heart goes out to everyone who experiences what we went through,” expressed Baker. “I’m grateful that they will have access to the help they need right here in their own community.”
