MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) – The New Ulm Medical Center has opened a new mental health program aimed at offering a transition between in-patient and out-patient therapy.

“We’ve been talking that we feel it could help some movement on the inpatient unit, a lot of times there isn’t a next step for those patients, if they do need a different type of treatment.” – Mary

The program offers a group therapy environment for rehabilitation. Each group consists of 8 adults who meet Mondays through Fridays, from 9 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon. The goal is to advocate for patients’ mental health and help them to be successful outside therapy.

“Ever since the COVID pandemic, there’s been a lot of mental health issues with the younger community, with having to not go to school and then go back to school, there’s lots of anxiety and self-confidence issues.” – Pete

“There is a divide between in-patient and seeing a mental health therapist. They get to go home at night and experience their lives, and then come back during the day” – Duane

This new program is one of only a handful of out-patient programs in the area, which will save patients and their families time and money, as well as making treatment a more viable option.

The Medical Center hopes this will encourage people to keep educating themselves on mental health issues and seek help when they need it.

“We work with people to help them have a voice and make them feel like they’re heard and seen.” – Duane

The Medical Center also plans to open another day program that runs three days of the week.

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