Midtown and Bear River Mental Health will work together

By Mikala Lindhardt

 

Bear River Mental Health and Midtown Community Health Center will come together beginning next year to provide mental health services to the Cache Valley community.

Announced earlier this month, Midtown clinic will be taking over the current Cache Valley Community Health Clinic on Jan. 4 to serve the public with physical and now mental needs.

According to Reed Ernstrom, the CEO of Bear River Mental Health, the Cache Valley Community Health Clinic’s limited weekly hours of operation made it difficult for Bear River to work with them in providing mental health services.

The Cache Valley clinic is open two days a week. Midtown will be open Monday through Friday.

Bear River has eight facilities in Cache, Box Elder and Rich counties that provide services such as therapy for individuals and groups, psychological testing and rehabilitation, skills development, stress management, crisis management and peer support.

 “We are excited to have Midtown come,” Ernstrom said. “Those with serious mental issues have a life expectancy of 25 years less than the normal population. With this in mind, we are happy to continue to help the public.”

Midtown is a federally funded, non-profit health clinic and will offer treatment and care for low income individuals and families.

“It is particularly difficult for uninsured individuals to access treatment. We want to be part of providing that access,” said Lisa Nichols, the executive director for Midtown Community Health Center.