Insurance battle compounds mental health crisis

At SalusCare, the health and well-being of the patients we serve is our top priority. We know the current need for mental and behavioral health services at this time is great; however, our Crisis Stabilization Unit remains closed following Hurricane Ian.

Due to flooding, SalusCare was recently notified of a stop work order until the insurance companies figure out who will be paying for repairing and rebuilding the Crisis Stabilization Unit. Unfortunately, we were not given a timeline for resolution while the flood and wind insurance companies work through details of our coverage assessment.

This is unacceptable.

Currently, children in crisis from all over Lee County are being diverted from lifesaving mental health services to the local hospital, where they remain or are shuttled away from their caregivers and loved ones throughout the state for stabilization. This transition only exacerbates their condition, causing additional distress to already traumatized families.

Estimates for repairs are nearing $2 million. This is just to repair the crisis unit. In other words, this does not include the repair/rebuild of the Vince Smith Center (a residential substance use disorder program for youth), our Cape Coral location where outpatient services and medication management are available to our county's largest city, the Ortiz campus that houses the Bob Janes Empowerment Center, and other needed repairs on our Transitional Living Campus.

Additionally, 90 of our employees, nearly all of whom have their own personal damage from the storm, are unable to work.

Please know that we are diligently working with local legislators and other advocates to assist in our efforts to repair and reopen SalusCare facilities expeditiously! We need your help and your voice — please share this critical information.

To donate, see SalusCareFlorida.org/donate. To share, see www.Facebook.com/SalusCareInc.

If you are having a behavioral health emergency (mental health or substance abuse), please contact 911.

—Stacey Cook is president and CEO of SalusCare, a not- for- profit mental health and substance abuse service provider with six locations throughout Southwest Florida.