CHERRY HILL, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — A South Jersey behavioral health agency’s decision to rename two of its facilities “Mental Health Urgent Care” appears to be paying early dividends.
Until a few weeks ago, people probably didn’t give a second look to Oaks Integrated Care’s Cherry Hill and Vineland facilities.
For years, the Mount Holly-based nonprofit has served people who feel depressed or anxious or have suicidal thoughts. Nothing inside has changed, but outside, a “Mental Health Urgent Care” sign marks the Cherry Hill location on Springdale Road.
Since the addition, more people are coming in for help, according to Kiera Buchanan, the program’s director. She said the sign is a better way to describe the nonprofit’s mission.
“You get services faster,” Buchanan said. “You could get to get seen by a therapist faster. You get to get support faster. If you need medications or medication management, you get all of that faster.
“Even if you are having suicidal ideations, you could come here and get seen by a mental health professional and not have to sit in the emergency room,” she continued.
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After the sign went up, an additional 10 to 20 people a week have stopped in, Buchanan noted, always thrilled and surprised to have found the facility.
“I never knew you existed,” Buchanan described their reactions. “I didn’t know that you were here. I’m so happy I found you.”
The mental health urgent care concept, Buchanan said, serves as a starting point for people in need of help who otherwise may not know where to begin.
“The mental health system wants to be able to provide these services to them and be able to make it easier for them to navigate,” she added, “because it can be challenging at times.”