Turning Point Hosts Open House of Living Room Facility March 9

Turning Point Behavioral Health Care Center in Skokie will be hosting an Open House of The Living Room at Turning Point – a comfortable, welcoming place where adults can go when they are experiencing a mental health crisis – at its headquarters at 8324 Skokie Blvd. on March 9 from 4 to 6 p.m.

The Living Room at Turning Point was opened in 2011 as an alternative to hospital emergency rooms for those experiencing mental health crises. Staffed by licensed therapists, a psychiatric nurse and peer counselors, the Living Room offers people support and assistance with problem solving, connections to other ongoing Turning Point services, referrals for shelter, healthcare and food, and a safe space in which to rest or relax. The Living Room at Turning Point is currently open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday evenings from 3 to 8 p.m.

During the Open House, the public will have a chance to see the facility and ask questions of the staff. In addition, light refreshments will be served, and staff members will give tours of The Living Room space.

“We wanted to give other therapists and social service agencies, who may have the opportunity to refer people to our facility, a chance to see what we’re all about,” says Peter Robichaux, MSW, LCSW, who oversees The Living Room program. “We hope that by inviting more agencies and referral sources to become familiar with us, we will be able to help even more people who are facing a mental health challenge.”

The Living Room program has been lauded by politicians and other mental health advocates around the country for its innovative approach to providing mental health care. Turning Point estimates it has saved hospitals $1,664,326 since opening by giving people somewhere else to go rather than the emergency room during a mental health crisis.

“The idea behind The Living Room is to provide immediate care to those who are suffering a mental health crisis, without forcing people to go to the hospital, where they may have to wait for hours to be seen,” said Turning Point CEO Ann Fisher Raney. “We are proud of the success of The Living Room program, and we would love to show the public the unique services we offer here.”

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TURNING POINT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE CENTER, established in 1969, is an outpatient mental health center that provides expert, affordable mental health care to all. For more information about Turning Point visit www.tpoint.org.