Hospitals caring for the mentally ill have evolved greatly over the years. One of the newest additions to the field has been built in Portland. Through a collaboration between Adventist Health, Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health and Oregon Health & Science University, the Unity Center for Behavioral Health has recently opened specifically for delivering emergency psychiatric services. Unmatched by any other clinic in the area, it offers emergency psychiatric services to its patients. This has come none too soon.
Struggles of Living With Mental Illness
Working through mental illness is enough of an issue and struggle in itself. However, the battle isn’t always confined to the mind. Some have been dealing with undue external stress from those who should be protecting them, not harming them. Portland has had a history of police violence and brutality towards the mentally ill. Various unprovoked attacks from the police have put some lives at risk, and ended others. There has been disorder among the homeless community in the past as well, which police have struggled to deal with. Approximately 18.5% of the adult American population deals with some form of mental illness in a given year. Of the homeless, it’s estimated to be 26%. Children and adolescents are not strangers to struggling against mental illness, either. Over the past 25 years, there have been an increase of mental illness cases. It’s clear that now, more than ever, mental health is not something to ignore or forget about.
Accommodating the Mind and Body
That is where the Unity Center for Behavioral Health comes in. Their facilities help address the burden that mental illness causes. Sometimes, even a serene surrounding can help tame a distracted mind. Unity Health Center has taken great care in the architecture of its premises. The structure flows well together, their rooms have soothing colors, and there is plenty of space for patients to wander. The staff on hand at Unity work to ensure the patients have their own space to recover. To accommodate short-term patients, the center has 50 comfortable spaces available for them to stay during a health emergency. Their emergency services are currently only available for patients 18 and older.
Preserving Mental Health
At Unity Health Center, there are inpatient facilities available for both adults as well as adolescents from ages 9-18. The adolescent unit is equipped with 22 beds, while the adult facilities have 80. There are inpatient kitchens, lounges, and therapy rooms available in both components. When taking in patients, a dedicated team of psychiatric physicians, nurses, and social workers focus on immediately solving the patients’ predicaments. After addressing the situation, the second step ensues: Formulating an extensive plan for the discharged patient, in order to maintain the positive results. This plan could include ongoing treatment, therapy, etc. for the patient. The staff at Unity works to ensure that mental health is not only acquired within their walls, but also possessed outside of them.
It’s a refreshing step for Portland. In time, there could be many more psychiatric centers able to cater to the needs of the public throughout the country. The continual addition of such facilities emphasizes the fact that mental illness is not something to be overlooked. With adequate time and professional aid, it is quite possible that the percentage of Americans struggling with mental illness could be dramatically reduced.