Northeast Kingdom Human Services is making headway on creating a mental health facility

Northeast Kingdom Human Services is making headway on creating a mental health facility in the region. The designated state agency plans to renovate an existing building on Lakemont Road in Newport into a 24/7 mental health urgent care center for up to 10 patients. The property is currently used as a physical therapy clinic but officials hope to move into the building by next summer. “This is a nice bridge to alleviate pressure on the hospitals to board people in the emergency room — which is not a great therapeutic place for people who are experiencing a mental health crisis. Trying to prevent people from going to inpatient — it’s just another opportunity and resource,” NKHS’ Kelsey Stavseth. She says the clinic will be the only one of its kind in the NEK.