FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Fulton County is just weeks away from opening a first-of-its-kind facility that will meet the needs of those experiencing a mental health crisis.
Officials gave 11Alive a tour of the facility Tuesday, ahead of the grand opening. The new behavioral health crisis center, which houses 24 beds and an 18-observation chair center, will provide behavioral health crisis services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) will provide operational funding for the center in which Grady Health System will operate.
Anne Hernandez with Grady Health System said 110 employees, including nurses and security, have been hired to staff the facility.
“If someone is feeling an immediate crisis or just ‘I’m just anxious today’ or ‘I need to talk to someone today.' They can come here,” Hernandez shared.
The center located off Metropolitan Parkway will be the only facility in that area equipped to handle mental health needs ranging from drug overdoses to suicide prevention. Hernandez said one of the goals of the facility is to ensure no one ever gets turned away for care because they can’t afford it.
The facility is scheduled to officially open in August, and officials say a White House representative will attend.