New behavioral health center seeks to treat the ‘whole patient’

Christ Health Center provides primary care, dental and counseling services to low-income and uninsured patients and — according to the facility’s website —  seeks to help “eradicate the healthcare gap that exists” in Birmingham.

And after a decade, the nonprofit — which opened its Woodlawn clinic in March 2009 — also seeks to fill “a consistent and critical need” for mental health care among its patients, clinic spokesperson Shannon Massey said. That’s why Christ Health is building a 6,300-square-foot behavioral health center with 10 exam rooms, adjacent to its clinic.

“Our goal is to treat the whole patient,” Massey said.

“People in poverty are three times more likely to suffer from severe mental illness,” she said.

Construction should be complete in April, according to Massey. The center will have two full-time psychiatrists — one for adults and one for children and adolescents — and offer individual and group therapy. The clinic’s pharmacy will be moved into the new building and expanded.

To pay for the facility, Christ Health is conducting its Multiply capital campaign. The goal is to raise $8.2 million, including about $7 million to build the new center and operate it the first three years.

For details, go to christhealthcenter.org.