Breaking mental health barriers: 3 psychiatric facilities come to Kern County
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Finding peace and getting the help you need may be easier, now that Kern officials unveiled two first-of-their-kind psychiatric health facilities in east Bakersfield, at 702 and 718 Workman Street.
One facility is for adults and one is for children. Each will have 16 beds, plenty of space and areas to enjoy with others or alone.
“I think we’re seeing a rise for inpatient services throughout the County, as opposed to years past,” said Lou Groce of Kern County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services.
Those behind it said the facilities will provide something the County has been missing in mental health care.
“A lot of the facilities we have are retrofitted from old hospitals and really, they’re well lit with natural light and things,” said Goce. “For people to heal, get better and get back on their journey to recovery.”
Those are not the only facilities opening, so is the Psychiatric Wellness Center in downtown Bakersfield, at 2204 Q Street.
“A lot of people are in rural areas, they can’t get to a lot of the community centers, especially mental health, and being as close as we are to downtown provides the proximity to be able to get access,” said partner of the facility, Michael Bowers.
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CEO Ganesh Acharya said that access will help the trend of patients they see begin to enroll.
“What you’re seeing is individuals dealing with homelessness, family trauma, or individuals that are coming out of jail. I think all of those populations really need this type of care and they really need this type of coordination,” said Acharya.
Acharya said having three new facilities will make an impact, particularly with homelessness.
“It’s hard to ask for help and it’s even harder when it seems like there are a lot of barriers to getting that help, and our goal is to be able to break those barriers down, and really help people achieve the goal in their mind of success,” said Acharya.
Psychiatric Wellness Center opened Thursday, May 16 at 5:30 p.m., but the other two facilities won’t be open for a few more months.
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