The need for mental health treatment has grown since the pandemic began, and with few inpatient beds in northern Michigan, McLaren is looking to correct that.
They’re beginning work on a new health center in Cheboygan that will provide 16 beds for those who need help.
“These 16 beds we expect to be very full,” said Todd Burch, President of McLaren Northern Michigan. “Behavioral health services is really a statewide service and we hope to keep many of residents here in northern Michigan.”
Since March 2020, substance abuse deaths have gone up 20,000 per year, up to 70,000.
This new health center will give those struggling a much needed service.
“Almost 20 percent of the population has some sort of substance abuse or mental health disorder and we’re excited to bring behavioral health services to the community,” said Burch.
There aren’t many health centers like this in northern Michigan, with only three in the area.
“The only inpatient units are in Traverse City, Alpena and Kinross, so there’s a huge hole in the map and this really fills in between all three of those locations,” Burch said.
With the lack of beds, many times hospitals have to send their patients elsewhere.
“Right now we have patients that will be in our emergency department for hours, sometimes days, and occasionally weeks before we’re able to find an inpatient bed for them,” said Burch. “In many cases we transfer all the way across the state and in some cases all the way to Indiana.”
The new health care center is expected to be complete in a year, and will put a small dent in the ongoing mental health crisis.
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