New Youth Crisis Stabilization Unit opens at CHOMP

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV)- UPDATE ON JULY 17, 2023 AT 2:53 PM- On Monday, Montage Health announced that they have opened a Youth Crisis Stabilization Unit at Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula for juvenile patients who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

The unit does have trained staff to help out patients who are in mental distress. The space will be staffed with psychiatrists as well as registered nurses and social workers with mental health training.

The space is open for patients who are 17 years and younger in addition to the space that opened in March that is open for patients that are 18 years and older.

Hospital officials said that the first half of this year ranging from New Year's Day 2023 to June 30, 2023 had 141 emergency department visits at Community Hospital for pediatric patients that had a mental health crisis.

"Every patient in the pediatric Crisis Stabilization Unit will be evaluated by an Ohana psychiatrist, and patients may additionally receive family therapy interventions from the Ohana therapy team," Dr. Veronica  Searles Quick, Director of Crisis Psychiatry with Ohana said in a statement. "Patients seen in the pediatric CSU that do not already have outpatient mental health care will also receive support connecting to a mental health clinician for ongoing care after leaving our facility.

Hospital officials said that the unit will benefit patients who meet clinical and safety criteria, freeing Emergency department space and staff for non-mental health emergencies.

Original Story

The Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula has opened a Crisis Stabilization Unit on Monday morning.

The space will have trained staff to help people who go to the emergency department in
crisis, but don’t require hospitalization.

The goal for the space is to get them specific, brief interventions to manage
the crisis, and to help ensure they have the services and support for them to go home.

“Someone in a mental health crisis may be experiencing suicidal thoughts, significant stressors at home or
in life that they are having trouble managing, or concurrent challenges with mental illness and substance
use,” said Dr. Veronica Searles Quick, Director of Crisis Psychiatry. “They often need therapeutic
support, a period of respite, and some space to recuperate.”

The Crisis Stabilization Unit is opening up in phases. The unit is only open for patients who are 18 and older for now. An adjacent area for patients who are 17 and younger will open in late May and will be partially staffed by Ohana which is Montage Health's mental health and behavior program and for young people.

The space will be staffed with psychiatrists as well as registered nurses and social workers with mental health training. The primary areas — one for young people, one for adults — are open spaces with comfortable reclining chairs, activities, and kitchenettes.

The space will be able to have group and individual therapy sessions, clinical consultations  meetings with families and quiet rooms.

Hospital officials said that the unit will benefit patients who meet clinical and safety criteria, freeing Emergency department space and staff for non-mental health emergencies.

“If we transfer a patient with a mental health concern to a more therapeutic environment more quickly, it benefits our patient and clears a bed in the Emergency department for another patient to be seen” Dr. Searles Quick said.

In January, hospital officials said that 146 Emergency department patients needed mental health assistance or evaluation.

Officials said that adult stays will probably be no longer than 24 hours, while children’s stays may be a bit longer, with active participation from their family members being a key part of the intervention.

A unit is designed for patients who come to the Emergency department in crisis, are evaluated there, and meet specific criteria, which includes

·        Are experiencing a mental health crisis that can benefit from a short-term intervention

·        Do not require hospitalization or inpatient treatment

·        Are not violent

·        Do not have advanced dementia

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