Advertisement

Thousands of people in Cleveland, McClain counties have access to new mental health services

Red Rock Behavioral Health celebrated a new clinic they said would provide a different model of treating mental health and addiction.

Updated: 10:16 PM CST Nov 21, 2023

Anchor/Reporter

Thousands of people in Cleveland and McClain counties will now have access to new mental health services.On Tuesday, Red Rock Behavioral Health celebrated a new clinic they said would provide a different model of treating mental health and addiction. Organizers said with this different approach to treating things, such as substance abuse and mental health, there is a proven track record of improved outcomes.It’s now going to be accessible to many more Oklahomans.”The mental health needs continue to grow,” said Verna Foust, CEO of Red Rock.To help meet that growing demand, Red Rock has been named the certified community behavioral health clinic, serving Cleveland and McClain counties.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.”It takes a whole team of people to make this work,” Foust said.Foust said by expanding their services to the counties. They will be able to help more than 1,000 people with substance abuse treatment and mental health in the first year.By year three, they said it could be as many as 3,000 people.”People with serious mental illness die much younger than the general population, usually from very preventable physical health conditions,” Foust said.The CCBHC model used by Red Rock provides community outreach, mobile clinics and 24-hour crisis care.”Monitoring them, working with their PCP to make sure they stay healthy physically as well. It is a different model,” Foust said.The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services helps oversee the program and provides a large amount of its funding.>> Download the KOCO 5 app”We selected Red Rock because they have a proven track record of serving Oklahoma. We are excited about the services they are going to provide here to Cleveland and McClain counties,” said Bonnie Compo, the Department of Mental Health Services.Foust said most importantly, they treat the person as a whole.”What we do every day is give people hope. Hope is the biggest gift you can give people. Recovery is possible,” Foust said.You can find more information about how to find out how you or a loved one can get services through Red Rock here.Top HeadlinesOklahoma doctor’s license suspended for unprofessional conductDogs are coming down with an unusual respiratory illness in several US statesBusinesses across Oklahoma City shut down just weeks before the holidaysUpdated data gives glimpse at what Oklahoma’s weather will be like in December18-year-old dead after crash in Oklahoma City, officials say