BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (AP) — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey opened a new mental health crisis center Tuesday in Birmingham, one of six such centers in the state aimed at addressing acute service shortages one.
The centers provide care for people going through a mental health or substance abuse crisis and are designed to take the pressure off emergency rooms and prisons, which often become places for default recipients. The Craig Crisis Care Center in Birmingham has 32 temporary observation beds and 16 extended observation beds.
Alabama lawmakers funded six centers in the state. Ive called the facility a “game changer” for mental health care. “This is an important step forward in improving the mental health of our citizens. They can receive immediate attention and care where there are trained personnel,” Ivey said.
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