Behavioral health center expands services to address growing need in Polk County

Behavioral health center expands services to address growing need in Polk County

MURDER. I’M KATIE LAGRONE, TAKING ACTION FOR YOU. >> SINCE THIS PANDEMIC THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IMPACTED BY MENTAL ILLNESSES IN POLK COUNTY HAS GROWN. REBECCA PETIT LOOKS INTO HOW A NON-PROFIT GROUP IS HELPING ADDRESS THE LACK OF ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THAT COUNTY. >> Reporter: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS THE NUMBER ONE HEALTH CONCERN IN POLK COUNTY ACCORDING TO THE 2020 COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT. >> THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE UNDERSERVED IN THIS AREA. >> Reporter: PEACE RIVER CENTER A NON-PROFIT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION IS HELPING ADDRESS THE LACK OF MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS IN THE COUNTY. THE CENTER HAS OPENED A NEW OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LOCATION IN LAKE WALES. THEY TELL ME THEY’VE SEEN MORE THAN 50 NEW CLIENTS SINCE OPENING IN MARCH. >> COVID HAS BROUGHT SOME AWARENESS TO MAYBE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD NOT EXPERIENCED SOME EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, AND BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION, THE TRAUMA WE’VE ALL EXPERIENCED THROUGH COVID, THAT SOME OF THESE SYMPTOMS ARE ARISING. >> Reporter: THE CENTER IS ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS FOR DISORDERS, INCLUDING DEPRESSION, BIPOLAR, SCHIZOPHRENIA AND CHILD’S BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS. THEY TELL ME THERE’S BEEN AN UPTICK IN PEDIATRIC CLIENTS. >> CHILDREN’S PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES HAS SEEN A HEIGHTENED NEED FOR ANXIETY OR THOSE SORT OF SYMPTOMS, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. >> Reporter: PEACE RIVER CENTER IS ALSO OPENING A NEW MENTAL ILLNESSES RECOVERY PROGRAM IN HAINES CITY NEXT MONTH. THE PROGRAM WILL ALLOW CLIENTS TO WORK ON COMPLETING EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING GOALS. IN LAKE WALES, REBECCA PETIT

Peace River Center, a nonprofit behavioral health organization, is helping address the lack of mental health providers in the county.