The state of Kansas is about to make big changes to its mental healthcare system, with a new psychiatric hospital located in Sedgwick County. “We see the mental health crisis that’s occurring, we see the homeless crisis that’s occurring, we see it in our front yard, we see it out our back door,” says Historic Midtown Society President Makayla Welch. “So we had a vested interest in where they were planning on putting this hospital that is desperately needed.” Scott Brunner with the state’s Department of Aging and Disability Services unveiled the possible locations at a public meeting in Wichita on Tuesday. “We want to be sure that we provide information about what the project looks like, who the patients are going to be, how people get there, the project funding and the county and state involvement just so they have a good picture of the project,” Brunner said. “So they can make a judgment about those locations.” Of the four locations, the one located on Central and McLean in Wichita, would be the only one utilizing an existing building. Brunner said that there are benefits to both building a new facility, and using the former Riverside Hospital. “If you build the new building, we can corporate newer technology designed factors around natural light and open spaces, good sight lines for our nurses and clinical staff to be able to be safe and, and patients be safe as well in the environment,” Brunner said. “If you go into an existing building, or where there’s already a structure and walls, you’ve got to start figuring out how those things all fit together. And it does make some accommodations about sightlines and number of patients per wings and units.” Welch said that she’s happy this issue of mental health in Wichita is finally being addressed.
Source: KAKE – News
