WARSAW — Bowen Center unveiled its new crisis receiving and stabilization unit in Pierceton on Thursday.

The facility is now part of the existing psychiatric hospital and provides 24/7 access to people facing a mental health or substance abuse crisis.

The services were funded by a $4.4 million grant from the Indiana Department of Mental Health and Addiction.

Officials specifically thanked State Sen. Ryan Mishler for supporting funding legislation that helped open the door for the services a few years ago.

Dr. Rob Ryan, Bowen Center president and CEO, said the unit represents the commitment to those individuals who need help late at night, on a weekend, or even during a holiday.

"Someone in your family or a loved one, something's happening, you don't know what it is -- you have a place to go," Ryan said. "Instead of wondering, is Bowen Center open, you know this place here is always open, always ready to help and house you."

He said each of Bowen Center’s five core counties — Marshall, Kosciusko, Whitley, Wabash and Huntington — have crisis receiving and stabilization resources.

Ryan said the new outlook would not have been possible if not for the vision of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction.

Jay Chaudry, director for the Division of Mental Health and Addiction, said Indiana has broken a logjam of sorts.

"Historically, with providers and the state ...  it's been providers saying 'Hey give us more and we'll be better' and the state says, 'Do better and we'll give you more.' It's like a stalemate where we're in this vicious cycle, and I think what's really exciting about what's happening right now is that we've broken the stalemate."

Zoe Frantz, with the Indiana Council for the Community Mental Health Centers, expressed confidence that the facility will make an impact."

"It will change lives. We've seen it nationally. We've seen jail rates go down. Hospital recidivism go down," Frantz said. "When you address the need of a crisis individual, we will be able to see that (return on investment) in the community."

To learn more check out the website at bowencenter.org.

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