BY SHAHERYAR KHAN
Who does it serve?
stakeholders, to ensure integrated support and care for those in crisis, Sturdivant said. The facility is expected to serve approximately 200 individuals per year, with a target occupancy of 80%.
and emergency services, Wigington said. By o ering comprehensive assessment, psychi- atric evaluation and initial stabilization within the local community, the facility hopes to improve outcomes and facilitate a smooth transition to ongoing mental health services, Sturdivant said. Sturdivant explained that keeping patients in their local community during the critical early stages of treatment is expected to lead to better long-term recovery and reintegration, as opposed to the disruption that can occur with out-of-town placements. Hill Country MHDD, which operates 12 out- patient clinics in the region, will work closely with the Comal County Mental Health Coalition, which includes law enforcement, courts and other
The facility will serve as a resource for residents across the organization’s 19-county service area experiencing acute mental health crises, Sturdi- vant said. The new facility will o er a 16-bed facility with a mix of secured and unsecured rooms, catering to both voluntary and involuntary patients experi- encing mental health emergencies. The center aims to provide an alternative to hospitalization, reducing the burden on emer- gency rooms and the criminal justice system, said Tod Citron, CEO of Hill Country MHDD. Currently, residents in Comal County needing cri- sis stabilization are often sent to other cities, which disconnects them from their support system and strains local resources, such as law enforcement
“We are considered the safety net mental health provider. … We mostly serve folks who are indigent. … That’s probably
99% who we serve.” TOD CITRON, CEO OF HILL COUNTRY MHDD
What’s next?
On Oct. 17, Hill Country MHDD broke ground on a similar facility in Uvalde, Citron said. “Diversion centers like this one are emerging across Texas as alternatives to hospitalization,” Citron said. “They help ll gaps left by the shortage of state hospital beds and sta ng challenges, which have limited the state’s ability to keep some psychiatric wings open.” Once the construction is nished, Comal County will retain ownership of the new facility. Hill Country MHDD will track and report various metrics from the facility, including occupancy, services provided and crisis resolution outcomes.
Timeline of construction
Contact info Additional resources you can call in Comal and Guadalupe counties include: Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988 Hill Country MHDD Centers' Crisis Hotline 877-466-0660 Bluebonnet Trails Community Services 800-841-1255
December 2024 Comal County plans to break ground on the facility
10-12 months Expected build-out length
End of 2025 The facility is expected to be open and operational
SOURCE: HILL COUNTRY MHDD COMMUNITY IMPACT
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