Agencies partner to provide mental health services

May 17--An open house will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the new Peer Recovery Respite Center in Lockport.

Located at 344 Walnut St., the center was launched in March as a result of a partnership between Health Minds of Niagara, Community Missions of Niagara Frontier Inc., the Mental Health Association in Niagara County and the Niagara County Department of Mental Health.

The facility is for those living with mental illness in Eastern Niagara County and launched in March. Unique to this program is its peer-operated aspect, where over half of the program's staff identify as having had lived experience themselves.

The program was developed to provide services to Niagara County adults in a home-like, safe and secure environment. The center offers four respite beds for hospital diversion, temporary housing, symptom management and as a rest or relief from stressors to current living situations. Also offered is a Recovery Line, providing face-to-face meetings and/or phone support to prevent the onset of an emotional crisis. Therapeutic support and intervention services are offered through the Mobile Transitional Support Team, specifically helping those in transition during this critical time.

The center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The program can be reached at 433-6543, and is made possible through funding from the Niagara County Department of Mental Health and the New York State Office of Mental Health.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 4:15 p.m. with state Sen. Robert Ott, R-North Tonawanda, chairman of the senate committee on mental health and developmental disabilities.

Those interested in attending should RSVP by Monday by calling 285-3403, ext. 2240 or dowens@communitymissions.org.

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