SPRINGFIELD — The Behavioral Health Network announced on Friday a new model of behavioral health services designed to streamline and shorten wait times for individuals seeking behavioral health treatment.A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the newly launched center “BHN WellBeing,” which aims to offer same-day evaluation and outpatient referrals in efforts to expand access to routine, urgent and crisis behavioral health treatment for people with mental health conditions and substance-use disorders.Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, state Sen. Jacob R. Oliveira, state Rep. Carlos González and state Rep. Orlando Ramos was among the officials who joined the event held at the Behavioral Health Network’s corporate headquarters at 417 Liberty Street.The ceremony began with a video message from a woman who told her story of addiction and her path to sobriety that was supported by services provided by the organization.The BHN WellBeing officially launched on Jan. 3. BHN WellBeing is currently serving 17 cities and towns in the region with in-person, community-based and telehealth services.According to Oliveira state lawmakers passed the mental health bill last summer to address the regional disparities in mental health in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.“Western Massachusetts has disproportionately been impacted in the last three years and as people come out of isolation, we are seeing a bigger need,” Oliveira said.In December, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership announced that 25 providers designated as Community Behavioral Health Centers would begin services at the start of this year.The network of Community Behavioral Health Centers will also deliver around-the-clock, community-based mobile crisis interventions and stabilizations as an alternative to hospital emergency departments for all ages and all communities across the commonwealth. The center opened in Springfield is part of that network. “People shouldn’t have to wait three to six weeks in a pod without getting healing services,” Oliveira said. “There is a level of care that everyone needs and it’s a part of the framework that’s being discussed and we are going to continue to fight for regional equity to make sure that people can get the services they need.”Oliveira said state legislators have put a larger focus on mental health and behavioral health legislation.“Addiction doesn’t discriminate, it touches every family,” he said.The organization’s goal is to ensure the right mental health and substance use disorder care is available when and where people need it, said Behavior Health Network’s President and CEO Steve Winn at Friday’s event.As of the opening in Jan. 3, the BHN WellBeing treatment center has been able to serve 200 more individuals for walk-in care, on top of the 5,000 that already get ongoing care, said Winn.A ribbon cutting was held Friday at a second BHN WellBeing location at 77 Mill St. in Westfield. Those seeking care can be connected to services online or by going or walk-in at both locations Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.“Matthew 11:28 said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest,’ That is what BHN gives to people who are going through difficult times,” González said.“It is about well-being. It’s about changing the language. It’s about working with people where they’re at,” González said. “It’s about providing intervention, prevention and treatment services to all with the commitment to multilingual culturally sensitive services.”
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