FLINT, Mich. (WJRT) – A psychiatric hospital in Flint is expanding with the help of the city government, giving Genesee County broader access to behavioral health resources.
Through a gift of $500,000 in opioid settlement money from Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley and the Flint City Council on Monday, Insight Health System’s Flint facility is growing.
The psychiatric hospital was granted a state Certificate of Need five years ago, which gave Insight a chance to build a 70-bed facility in Flint.
While the location currently only has 19 beds, Insight Health System Founder and CEO Dr. Jawad Shah said even a single bed added provides more access.
“By unlocking our ability to admit more, it unlocks our ability to do more out-patient services as well,” said Shah.
He said one bed can help up to 1,000 patients because the majority of patients don’t need in-patient care.
By having more beds available, the facility can take on more out-patients responsibly.
“As you begin to gather more and more patients in an out-patient setting, you have to be prepared now to have them admitted,” Shah said.
Shah said Michigan can’t ignore the mental health crisis that’s attacking its most vulnerable.
“They require tutoring, they require love, they require programs, they require an environment that’s good,” said Shah.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Jordan Bryant said that by simply being present in the area, the stigma surrounding behavioral health begins to shift.
“I think we talk a lot about this stigma of it,” Bryant said. “A lot of that comes from how our providers and our team engage with those in the community.”
More beds means more patients and in turn, more opportunities for him to show up and make a difference, Bryant said.
“We’re taking away that stigma,” said Bryant. “It’s a human being that you’re talking to. They may be in a rough spot, but they’re still a human being and we have to treat them like they’re a human being.”
Insight provides therapy services, substance use treatment and inpatient stabilization to the Genesee County area.
Another $7 million to $10 million is still needed to meet their goal of 70 beds.
