In the heart of Franklin County, community isn’t just a word, it is how we look out for one another during our darkest hours.
For many of our neighbors, those hours come in the form of a mental health or substance abuse crisis. Whether a veteran struggling with PTSD, a student overwhelmed by depression, or a family member facing an addiction emergency, the need for immediate, compassionate help is a reality for one in four Americans each year.
For many, those moments involve a mental health or substance use crisis—challenges that affect one in four Americans annually.
To meet this growing need, Keystone Health has established a robust safety net at its new multi-service facility at 133 West Catherine Street, offering immediate, compassionate care that goes far beyond a temporary fix. This new facility works in tandem with WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital to ensure a seamless continuum of care. While Catherine Street provides vital daytime walk-in stabilization, WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital Emergency Department remains the community’s 24/7 anchor for inpatient crisis and emergency behavioral health needs.
Immediate Help When Every Minute Counts
Crisis doesn’t follow a schedule. Recognizing this, the Keystone Health Crisis Intervention Program serves as a 24/7 anchor for residents.
The program provides several critical points of contact:
24-Hour Hotline: Residents can dial (717) 264-2555 or 988 anytime to speak privately with trained staff who provide support and resource referrals.
Walk-In Crisis and Psychiatric Support: Located at the Catherine Street facility, these services offer face-to-face assessments without an appointment.
Available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., this option provides a vital alternative to the emergency room for those in emotional distress.
After-Hours Care: While the Catherine Street office operates during standard business hours, Keystone Health maintains a 24/7 telephone crisis telephone hotline for evening and weekend support, ensuring help is always reachable.
Comprehensive Behavioral Health for Children (14+) and Adults
The value of the Catherine Street facility lies in its “health-first” approach. By housing Keystone Behavioral Health alongside primary care, pharmacy, and dental services, the organization has created a one-stop shop for wellness.
The behavioral health program specializes in treating patients from pediatric (ages 14+) to geriatric ages. Services include:
Psychiatric Care: The facility offers psychiatric evaluations and medication management for both children aged 14 and up and adults.
Referral for Interventional Psychiatry: Modern treatment options, such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for depression, are available for patients at the Chambers Hill location who may not have found relief through traditional methods.
Referrals for Therapy and other resources: The Crisis assessment may include referrals to other levels of care.
Saving Lives and Strengthening Families
When asked “why now?”, Joanne Cochran, CEO, shared “Mental health struggles don’t wait for an appointment. By offering walk-in behavioral health services at our new Catherine Street facility, we are ensuring that when our neighbors reach out for help, we are there to meet them exactly when they need it most. This center is a testament to our commitment to making high-quality, compassionate care accessible to everyone.”
Crisis intervention is about more than just managing a single event; it is about restoring balance and preventing long-term psychological harm. Since July 2024, local hotlines have seen over 5,000 contacts, highlighting the critical role these services play in Franklin County.
By providing early intervention and accessible walk-in care, Keystone Health helps individuals return to their daily lives and develop new coping skills. In a community where no one is immune to stress, these services are not just a medical resource—they are a lifeline that keeps our community whole.
Information about Keystone Health:
Keystone Health, a public 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation, provides family medicine, internal medicine, pediatric, obstetric, gynecological, cardiac, behavioral, urgent care, pharmacy, HIV/STD, family planning, audiology and speech, pediatric occupational therapy, dental health services and, when needed, social services to anyone in the community including the underserved and vulnerable populations. Keystone offers 24/7 crisis intervention services through the Keystone Crisis Intervention Program. Keystone also offers primary care services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers at locations across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
For more information regarding Keystone, please visit the website at www.keystonehealth.org. For more information regarding this news release, please contact Jan Lewis at (717) 709-7900 x 7959.
