The Center begins the first of four phases, operating Sunday-Thursday, 8 am - 8 pm
The Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis and Access Center (GTMHCAC) has now officially opened its doors to patients offering select services Sunday through Thursday, 8:00am to 8:00pm.
Located on the Munson Medical Center campus at 410 Brook Street (Traverse City), The Center is open to patients of any age, regardless of their ability to pay. As part of a four-phase plan, Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority (NLCMHA) will operate the Welcome Center in this initial phase, providing services that include:
- Behavioral health assessments
- Face-to-face crisis intervention
- Psychiatric pre-admission screening
- Crisis phone screening (1-833-295-0616)
- Mobile crisis services
- Peer support services
- Referral to community services and outpatient therapy
“Services are available to patients of any age, adult or pediatric,” said Michael Corby, GTMHCAC Behavioral Health Director. “This is a particularly timely date for The Center’s opening as evidence suggests an increase in mental health problems like Seasonal Affective Disorder, post-holiday stress, and pressure about the New Year that can be very prominent this time of year.”
To meet the needs of the community, The Center will open in four phases between now and Fall 2025 as Munson Healthcare (MHC) and Northern Lakes CMHA ramp up a shared staffing model.
Phase Two is scheduled to begin July 1, 2025, at which time the facility will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. This phase will include the addition of psychiatric urgent care operated by Munson and a “Living Room” model of care facilitated by Northern Lakes CMHA.
Psychiatric urgent care is an intermediate level of care between community-based services and acute care services, such as an emergency department or inpatient care. This level of care can often prevent urgent situations from escalating while also providing access to psychiatric assessment, psychiatric care and medication management to help a person stabilize symptoms.
The Living Room model of mental health care is based on the idea that people experiencing a mental health crisis want a safe, home-like place to go that isn't a hospital or emergency department. In this more comfortable, non-clinical setting, people will be able to receive crisis intervention, stabilization services, and support from staff who have their own experience with mental illness or substance use disorder.
Phase Three will include nine (9) NLCMHA adult crisis residential beds slated for Summer 2025, with Munson Healthcare’s six (6) pediatric crisis residential beds scheduled to come online during the final phase sometime in Fall 2025. The timing of the final two phases will be dependent on the licensing process.
“This is an exciting first step in a year-long journey to expand access to much-needed mental health services for our community,” said Terri Lacroix-Kelty, MHC Executive Director of Behavioral Health. “As we begin providing services, we also remain actively engaged in recruiting staff and working with the state on licensing of our adult and pediatric crisis residential units.”
The Center’s opening is the result of a far-reaching collaboration between community mental health partners and non-profits as well as a highly engaged community advisory group. Funding for the project has been made possible through a $5 million American Rescue Act Funding allocation from Grand Traverse County and an additional $5 million grant from the Michigan Hospital Association (MHA) designated exclusively toward pediatric programming and services.
For more information visit gtmentalhealth.org or call 231-213-1050.