Plans are in motion for the first mental health urgent care in Knoxville, Tenn., local news source WVLT reported June 15.
The urgent care will be funded by an approximately $4 million joint investment from nonprofit mental health and social services provider the McNabb Center and the state to specifically help the more than 3,000 people in Knox County who have a mental illness.
When patients with those needs are taken to a general emergency room, some will wait days until a psychiatric bed is available, Jerry Vagnier, McNabb Center CEO, told WVLT.
The center is specifically designed to treat those dealing with a mental health crisis or who need assistance accessing psychiatric care, including addiction treatment and family counseling, ideally lessening the delay for those seeking treatment.
Knoxville Mayor Glenn Jacobs said that not only will this facility benefit Knox County, but the surrounding counties as well. He said a majority of the budget will come from the federal government's American Rescue Plan, local news source WBIR reported.