PARIS, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV) — As the need for mental health services continues to rise, one local hospital is expanding services to make them available at any time.
Starting January 1, 2024, the Human Resource Center (HRC) of Edgar and Clark Counties will have mental health services through the ‘Living Room Program’ available 365 days a year and 24/7.
“What it really offers is a bridge between daytime services, [and] the scheduled services that HRC provides. This is a service that’s available, readily available when you need it,” Jonathan Burns, Executive Director of HRC, said.
The ‘Living Room Program’ is a free, drop-in style mental health support program through HRC on the Paris Campus of Horizon Health.
Burns said for years, they have seen the need for services outside of your typical 9-5, but funding was a challenge.
“Thankfully, the Illinois Department of Human Services offered this grant called ‘The Living Room Program’, Which HRC was able to obtain. It consists of about $935,000 a year in funding which supports the program,” Burns said.
As of the first of the year, you can drop in at the Life Center on the Paris campus at any time of day, all year round.
It’s free of charge, you don’t need any sort of funding or insurance.
“We’re keeping people out of an emergency room, we’re keeping them out of mental health crisis and being able to provide support for them,” Terra Ogle, Crisis Recovery Support Supervisor, said.
Ogle and Burns said they have continued to see the need grow, especially following the pandemic.
“We’ve seen the need in our community grow for whatever reason. Last year we served 224 and this year, in the first three months of our fiscal year, we’ve already seen 149,” Ogle said.
Ogle said she hopes this will make people feel more comfortable to come forward in times of need, as they know all too well that crisis can happen at any time.
“There’s only 20 of us, 20 of these programs across the state and our community specifically is a resource desert. We don’t have enough for the people to serve their needs. So this will give them a place to land, a place to get connected to resources,” Ogle said.
You do have to be 18 years old or older to utilize the program and its resources.
The resources they provide include coping skills, job placement, housing placement, and connecting you to other mental health resources.
To find more information about the ‘Living Room Program’ and current hours of operation, click here.
