More and more people need mental health services in Kern County, so much so that Behavioral Health and Recovery Services plans to build two more treatment facilities on Workman Street in east Bakersfield.
The two facilities, which will serve minors and adults, are meant to ease the burden on the countys mental health safety net, which officials say has reached its maximum capacity.
Kern County is growing, and so not only is this expansion to help where we currently are, but to successfully plan for the future, said Robin Taylor, a deputy director at BHRS. Ive been working in crisis services since 2008, and just as Kern gets bigger and bigger, that need is still there.
The department reports that over the last three years, many of the services at its four facilities and beyond have seen a more than 20 percent increase in demand, leading to extended wait times. The mobile evaluation team, which is dispatched by law enforcement during mental health crises, responded to 4,039 requests for service over the last fiscal year, a nearly 51 percent increase from the three fiscal years earlier.
But the countys greatest need comes from services for adolescents. According to a BHRS report compiled for the Board of Supervisors, the one Kern County facility used for treating youth aged 16 to 20 is contracted for use by multiple counties. Although local youth get priority admission, the county has had difficulty securing beds. In some cases, Kern County teenagers have had to be sent outside the county for treatment.
For minors, were over (capacity). We need more, Taylor said. We really do need more inpatient psychiatric beds.
On Tuesday, supervisors will consider a plan that would authorize BHRS to pursue funding for the two facilities. Expected to cost around $25.5 million, the financing of the project will be discussed at the meeting.
Each facility would contain at least 16 beds, and will provide inpatient services for voluntary and involuntary patients.
BHRS has been developing the project for the last three years, and the land on which the two facilities would go was purchased in 2019. Taylor described the project as being past the midpoint, with preliminary designs of the buildings already completed.
We see this as a very valuable service to the community. Through our stakeholder process we know this is a need, she said. At this time, we are just going to continue to move forward.
The project could be completed as soon as the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023, with 76 jobs being supported by BHRSs additions.
At a time when many have lost their jobs or have been forced to social distance, the extra support could be more in-demand than ever.
During the coronavirus pandemic, mental health services have been needed at a consistently high level. BHRS services have seen a steady flow of work when normally demand dips from time to time. The planned expansion should help the department be prepared for future needs, according to department heads.
Most of BHRSs funding comes from taxes collected by the state. The construction of the two new sites is not expected to impact the countys general fund.
You can reach Sam Morgen at 661-395-7415. You may also follow him on Twitter @smorgenTBC.
Read more here:
With mental health services at capacity, Kern County looks to expand options with two new facilities - The Bakersfield Californian
- Mental Health - June 23rd, 2018 [June 23rd, 2018]
- Mental Health - Harvard Health - July 26th, 2018 [July 26th, 2018]
- Mental Health UK :: Home - July 26th, 2018 [July 26th, 2018]
- Mental Health : NPR - July 26th, 2018 [July 26th, 2018]
- Mental Health | Youth.gov - July 26th, 2018 [July 26th, 2018]
- Mental Health - Orange County, Florida - November 2nd, 2018 [November 2nd, 2018]
- Care Manager - Tarrytown, NY | MHA - November 3rd, 2018 [November 3rd, 2018]
- Home - Henderson Behavioral Health - November 16th, 2018 [November 16th, 2018]
- Adult Mental Health | Georgia Department of Behavioral ... - November 23rd, 2018 [November 23rd, 2018]
- A Digital Home - Mental Health Partners - November 23rd, 2018 [November 23rd, 2018]
- Mental Health | Health & Wellness - November 23rd, 2018 [November 23rd, 2018]
- Mental Health UK - Working together for everyone's mental ... - November 23rd, 2018 [November 23rd, 2018]
- Mental disorder - Wikipedia - December 20th, 2018 [December 20th, 2018]
- Mental Health | NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA - December 26th, 2018 [December 26th, 2018]
- Home - SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator - December 26th, 2018 [December 26th, 2018]
- Volunteers of America's Mental Health Services | Volunteers ... - December 26th, 2018 [December 26th, 2018]
- Mental Health CSG Justice Center - December 26th, 2018 [December 26th, 2018]
- WHO classifies 'gaming disorder' as mental health condition - CNN - December 26th, 2018 [December 26th, 2018]
- Adult Mental Health - December 26th, 2018 [December 26th, 2018]
- Mental health - Wikipedia - December 27th, 2018 [December 27th, 2018]
- What Is Mental Health? | MentalHealth.gov - December 27th, 2018 [December 27th, 2018]
- New York State Office of Mental Health - December 27th, 2018 [December 27th, 2018]
- Mental Health and Mental Disorders | Healthy People 2020 - January 1st, 2019 [January 1st, 2019]
- Mental Health - CHOC Children's - January 1st, 2019 [January 1st, 2019]
- Mental Health Care | Health.mil - January 1st, 2019 [January 1st, 2019]
- Outpatient Mental Health Facilities programs City of ... - January 2nd, 2019 [January 2nd, 2019]
- Mental and Behavioral Health - AAP.org - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- Sleep and mental health - Harvard Health - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- Mental Health: American Diabetes Association - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- Mental Health Problem Symptoms, Causes and Effects - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- Promoting Childrens Mental Health - AAP.org - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- Ten Things You Can Do for Your Mental Health | University ... - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- Mental Health | MS Department of Mental Health - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- Mental Health Screening Tools | Screening 2 Supports - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- What is mental health - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- MS Department of Mental Health - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- Mental Health Hotline | 24 Hour Mental Health & Illness Helpline - February 12th, 2019 [February 12th, 2019]
- 50 Mental Health Quotes for Happiness and Success (2019) - February 12th, 2019 [February 12th, 2019]
- Mental illness - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic - February 21st, 2019 [February 21st, 2019]
- Home Page | Department of Mental Health - March 8th, 2019 [March 8th, 2019]
- Mental Disorders: MedlinePlus - March 23rd, 2019 [March 23rd, 2019]
- Mental Health | Healthy People 2020 - March 23rd, 2019 [March 23rd, 2019]
- Health - lds.org - April 13th, 2019 [April 13th, 2019]
- Mental Health | ADA - September 11th, 2019 [September 11th, 2019]
- Faces of Loudoun: Mental Illness Just Means I Need Help Now and Then - Loudoun Now - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Youth mental health work more important than ever after tornadoes, shooting - Dayton Daily News - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- BOMBARDED Part 3: Mental health struggles weigh heavily on LGBTQ+ youth - Keizertimes - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- The Uses and Abuses of the Term Mental Illness - National Review - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Natures Role in Mental Illness: Prevention or Treatment? - Psychology Today - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Meghan Markle Says There Is a Global Consciousness Crisis Regarding Mental Health - TownandCountrymag.com - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Letter from the Editor: Michigans mental health crisis is affecting all of us. Something must be done - MLive.com - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Voices For Mental Health: Clodagh, on how Ireland has changed its perspective on mental health #NowWereTalking - hotpress.com - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Timberlake Jr. High teacher's focus on mental health earns her Idaho Teacher of the Year award - KXLY Spokane - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- New rule could leave tens of thousands in Michigan without their mental-health counselor - MLive.com - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Lawmakers and law enforcement officials push for more mental health beds in northwest Wisconsin - WEAU - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- One Way to Think About Mental Health: Zero-Proof Cocktails - Houstonia Magazine - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Evaluating Jumaane Williams' proposal to reform mental health crisis response - City & State - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- How to talk to children about their mental health - TODAY - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- NC bill aimed at providing more mental health resources in schools - WSOC Charlotte - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Northeastern University researcher studies the use of social robots in mental health and well-being research - News@Northeastern - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- 'The way universities are run is making us ill': inside the student mental health crisis - The Guardian - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- TC's Greg Epstein and Kate Clark talk mental health startups and the 'Cult of the Founder' - TechCrunch - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Key resources: Shining light on mental health in New Hampshire - WMUR Manchester - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Mental-health issues hit home for lots of Michigan families. Including mine. - MLive.com - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Voices For Mental Health: Kano, on telling his truth - hotpress.com - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- See which Michigan counties have highest, lowest ratio of mental-health providers - MLive.com - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- The Politician: why the Netflix show is being criticised by mental health charities - iNews - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- In survey of working women in Japan with mental health issues, a third blame harassment at work - The Japan Times - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Brexit is affecting our mental health, warn doctors - cosmopolitan.com - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Odd Socks Day helps to tackle stigma and discrimination around mental health - The Sector - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Statehouse Online: Rep. Puppolo advocates for mental health and education funding - WWLP.com - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Living By The Coast May Be Better For Your Mental Health, Study Finds - CBS Boston - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Jumaane Williams: De Blasio and McCray have failed on mental health crisis - New York Post - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Family of accused Woodfield Mall driver says his mental health is to blame, not terrorism - WGN TV Chicago - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Supes Haney And Ronen Unveil Sweeping Mental Health Bill, Mayor Is Quick To Oppose It - SFist - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Discord in SF City Hall over ambitious mental health system overhaul - Mission Local - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Your Mental Health and Your Work - Harvard Business Review - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Mental health and the court system - WCBI - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Artists to work on mural downtown in support of mental health - pacificsandiego.com - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Providence St. Patrick Hospital How to know if you have a mental illness? - KPAX-TV - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]