A new mental health urgent care center has opened in Perris and its doors will remain open around the clock to offer voluntary mental health support to people in crisis.

Riverside University Health System—Behavioral Health has engaged the Telecare Perris-Mental Health Urgent Program to provide the community-based mental health and recovery services. Steve Steinberg, director of RUHS Behavioral Health said his department is expanding the number of community-based mental health urgent care centers countywide to get residents in crisis the timely and appropriate help they need.

“Our goal is to link people to resources while alleviating pressure on local law enforcement agencies and emergency departments, which are seeing an increase in the number of individuals with mental health crises seeking help,” Steinberg said.

Faith Richie, senior vice president of development at Telecare said the organization is thrilled to be in the Perris area. She said Telecare has been serving Riverside County’s health system since 2003.

“This type of 24/7 crisis program can help people when they’re experiencing a lot of distress and are in need of immediate relief. We are pleased that Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health invited us to help expand the county’s network of crisis care.”

Perris Mayor Michael M. Vargas called the mental health urgent care center a valuable resource that strengthens the partnerships of community-based organizations, emergency responders and mental health professionals.

“I encourage everyone to join the effort to combat the stigma of mental illness and promote the recover and mental wellness of our families, friends and neighbors,” Vargas said.

The Telecare Perris-Mental Health Urgent Care program will offer 24/7, voluntary services in a non-residential but homelike setting to adults ages 18 and older who are having a mental health crisis and may also have a co-occurring substance use disorder. The program aims to increase access to crisis services, reduce inpatient hospitalization, reduce the amount of time that law enforcement is involved in a mental health crisis, and strengthen the existing outpatient behavioral health system of care. The facility will be able to serve up to 12 individuals at a time. The length of stay is up to 24 hours.

“People can come to the Mental Health Urgent Care to get help right now,” said Beatrice Serafin, Regional Director of Operations at Telecare. “There’s a team of calm, compassionate staff to support them. The goal is to help people get through the immediate crisis, regain stability, and get connected to ongoing services in the community. We are here to provide crisis care, but more importantly, to support recovery.”

The program has a multi-disciplinary staff including clinicians, psychiatric prescribers, and nursing staff, as well as peer support specialists that make up 50 percent of the full-time staff. The peer support team are people with lived experience with mental health issues and bring a unique level compassion, insight, trust, and guidance to the environment, helping people in crisis to feel less alone and imagine a more hopeful future.

Walk-ins are welcome at the new urgent care program. Additionally, referrals can come from Riverside County’s mobile crisis teams, local hospital emergency departments, emergency treatment services, law enforcement, faith-based organizations, family, and friends. For more information about services or referrals to Telecare Perris, visit 85 Ramona Expressway, Suites 1-3, Perris, or call 951-349-4195.