New Rochester facility to offer support for people experiencing a mental health crisis

Adding a critical step to the emergency care continuum, the Southeast Regional Crisis Center will soon provide 24/7 immediate care for area individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.

The center will open July 28 at 2121 Campus Drive SE in Rochester, and will service 10 southeast Minnesota counties — Dodge, Steele, Waseca, Olmsted, Goodhue, Wabasha, Mower, Fillmore, Winona, and Houston.

Dr. Bruce Sutor, a Mayo Clinic psychiatrist who serves as chair of the center's executive board, has been involved in the project since 2016 as a member of Governor Dayton’s mental health task force. During that time, the group determined the state had a shortage of mental health care facilities and Dr. Sutor worked with State Sen. David Senjem, of Rochester, to secure $5 million to pay for the center’s construction. 

“I think it will connect people more efficiently with the services that they need and we hope that it will reduce stigma around mental illnesses,” said Sutor. “If you’re in crisis, it’s okay to seek help.”

Both Nicole Mucheck, executive director of the center, and Dr. Sutor believe the center will fill the gap in mental health care in which patients often choose between waiting weeks for a therapy appointment or going to the emergency department where they can be assessed but not counseled. 

“We want to respond to individuals who are in an active mental health crisis and decrease the long waits that individuals might have in an emergency room, as well as impact the ability for individuals to get long-term care with community providers,” said Mucheck.

To ensure all individuals in the region have access to mental health care, Mucheck said the center will work with community partners to help with some of the costs not covered through insurance. 

The center is a collaboration between the 10 counties, Mayo Clinic, Olmsted Medical Center, the SE Minnesota NAMI chapter, health plan partners, and law enforcement. It is being operated by Nexus Family Healing.

No appointment needed

In a recent tour of the facility, Mucheck emphasized the walk-in focus of the center — no appointments are needed and the center is open 24/7.

The center is an expansion of the existing crisis response team which has a hotline and mobile response units to dispatch teams across southeastern Minnesota for those in crisis without transportation. Law enforcement and EMS will also coordinate with the center to drop off individuals in crisis. 

Upon entry, individuals are shown to observation rooms where mental health practitioners assess the crisis and determine appropriate steps.

Executive Director Nicole Mucheck

“What makes us a little bit unique is that we have 23 hours to assess,” said Mucheck. “This allows us flexibility and to be thorough with our assessment process.”

After crisis assessment, individuals who need additional stabilization are examined by a nurse and can stay in short-term housing at the center for up to 10 days. The rooms feature a bed, nightstand, chair, window and private bathroom. Residential housing is divided between adults and youth 10+ with a total capacity of 16 beds.

During a short-term residential stay, individuals will be served three meals and offered activities such as a life skills group, a therapy group, and meeting individually with a clinical care manager.

The center, Mucheck explained, strives to create a calm and supportive environment for those in crisis, with ample family rooms, meeting rooms equipped with telehealth to include family members not present, game rooms, a kitchen, and many lounge spaces. 

Mucheck added that the center also plans to implement measures to ensure long-term stability for patients, including follow-up visits. 

“A lot of the work we plan to do is with the outreach portion — working with individuals to understand how the crisis center can offer that support to those in a mental health crisis and also help individuals bridge the gap, to find those community resources when they leave the crisis center.”

Haley Handelman is a summer news intern for Med City Beat. A graduate of Mayo High School, she now studies at Northwestern University.