New crisis center coming to Madison County

Per day.

Today- we worked to learn more about a 2 point 1 million dollar crisis center that will be built in madison county.

It will be a place for law enforcement, first responders and hospitals to take a person who is in a mental health crisis.

Waay 31's sydney martin talked with local leaders.

They explained how this will help improve access to mental health care in north alabama.

Frank barger, madison county probate judge "to say that i'm excited is not sufficient .

We are certainly, certainly thrilled that we are going to have this in madison county.

It will lessen or reduce the burden of the psych unit at huntsville hospital and again just the additional bed space is going to have a huge impact on the way serve."

Madsion county probate judge frank barger- told me adding 39 beds for mental health patients in madison county will help improve care for people going through a crisis.

He's not the only one excited for the new facility... chief dave jernigan, madison police "the announcement this week.

We are really, really excited about this because it began about 5 years ago in a grassroots kind of organization."

Madison police chief dave jernigan told me he's a part of the mental health coalition in madison county that brings a variety of agencies together to discuss mental health needs in north alabmaa.

Chief dave jernigan, madison police "mentally individuals that are in crisis don't need to go to jail.

We need a hybrid or a place where they can certainly not go to jail but not go to the emergency room somewhere in between which is a crisis center."

He told me the new center will be open for intake with law enforcement and court referalls..

And they will be able to get someone help faster..

Chief dave jernigan, madison police " it's a way we can have somebody be able to recognize they need help, get them to the crisis center."

"it may be a 23.5 hour stay.

It might be to find out what their issue is, get them linked up with peers or family or make a further assessment that they need some either further inpatient or outpatient training."

And barger added with beds in the area normally being filled up..this will hopefully help individuals reduce the frequency of visits to a hospital's emergency department and provide sustained recovery..

Frank barger, madison county probate judge "having just shy of 40 additional beds to serve this community, is going to have a vast improvement, a vast impact, on the way we serve those folks that are mentally ill."

In huntsville sm waay 31 news.

They tell us the new crisis center will be built somewhere along south memorial parkway.

The governor's office announced wellstone behavioral health in huntsville will be the facility's provider.

It's unclear