Nashville just opened a new facility to offer mental health services for children as part of efforts to support youth in crisis across the state.
The new center is located across the North Nashville Mental Health Cooperative, where community and mental health leaders celebrated the opening on Tuesday. The facility was originally designed to save young lives.
Mental Health Center for Children in Nashville
In a statement, Mental Health Cooperative CEO Michelle Schafer talked about the center, saying that having resources readily available 24/7, regardless of a person's ability to pay, will undoubtedly provide much-needed assistance. She added that the facility would literally change the lives of many children and families.
The Children and Youth Crisis Stabilization Unit is now open to provide service to children aged four to 17 years, marking the second of its kind in Tennessee, according to WSMV. The first children and youth unit was built in Knoxville.
Diana Jackson, a registered nurse and the Director of Nursing at Emergency Psych Center Mental Health Cooperative, said that even a short amount of time, for example, five minutes, is enough for an individual to encounter something that could change their life.
The opening of the new center comes as state data showed that one in six children aged six to 17 experiences a mental health disorder every year. It was also found that suicide is the second leading cause of death among children in Tennessee who are between the ages of 10 and 17.
Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Use Services Commissioner Marie Williams said that they are aware that children have been struggling and suffering. She added that there needs to be a community place where they can receive treatment if they are suffering from anxiety, depression, or suicidal ideation, among others, WKRN reported.
Providing Much-Needed Support
Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell also said that the facility has a therapy dog available, adding that the Nashville Public Library has provided books for the center. He called it a "really safe place to get back on your feet as a young person who is going through one of the toughest times of life."
The opening of the new center comes as experts say that a healthy mind and a healthy body go hand in hand. They tout the importance of identifying and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral health issues early in a child's life.
This is also the reason why regular screenings for kids have become a top priority among medical professionals dealing with youth. Diagnosing these conditions as soon as possible helps support effective treatment, as per Healthy Children.
