Although the new doors have been open since October, the officials and staff of the $1.8 million Life Help Region 6 Community Mental Health Center held its official grand opening on Monday and invited and welcomed community leaders to tour the new facility.
Director Nivia Murry said the newly erected structure allows them to continually provide quality outpatient care to its 900 plus clientele. Life Help provides an array of therapy services, psychiatric services, psychosocial rehabilitation, alcohol and drug services as well as programs for persons dealing with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Plus, the Greenwood office, which is also the headquarters, operates a pharmacy.
The Indianola Life Help facility provides day services for 30 to 40 people per day. “They gain basically socialization skills and everyday life skills,” said Murry. She added that another goal of the day program is to give the clients’ normal caregivers a break.
During Monday’s ribbon cutting, Sunflower County Board of Supervisors President Glenn Donald gave a brief recap of how the structure came about, noting the deplorable condition of the previous facility on Baker Street (that building has since been leveled) and the cooperation between the county and Region 6 to bring the new structure to fruition.
Region 6 Administrator Phaedra Cole called the collaboration a “glorious partnership.” She thanked the county and city leaders and said without their vision and support the building would not exist.
Life Help is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., “Even though we close at five, we still provide after hour services,” Murry said. She said they have a mobile intensive therapist to provide those services.
Life Help serves 12 counties and over 10,000 participants and employs more than 600 people.
