Huntsville is now home to Alabama’s first 24/7 pediatric mental health crisis center, a 12,000-square-foot facility that provides 24 beds for children aged 12 to 18 at WellStone, Inc.

This much-anticipated facility marks a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to improve mental health care for young people. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the 19th, Governor Kay Ivey, Mental Health Commissioner Kim Boswell, and WellStone CEO Jeremy Blair were joined by local and state leaders, along with over 250 others to celebrate this breakthrough in adolescent mental health services.

Governor Ivey, who has played a key role in increasing funding for the Alabama Department of Mental Health, expressed her gratitude for the facility’s potential to address local needs.

“It’s heartwarming to know that nearly 800 children are transported out of Madison County and even out of the state every year for mental health services,” Governor Ivey said. “But thanks to this facility, that number will drop, and Alabama families will be able to get help closer to home.”

Her words reflect the urgent need for localized mental health care. In Madison County alone, hundreds of children in crisis have had to leave the state to receive treatment. This often led to families feeling isolated and unsupported in their darkest moments.

One local mother, Ryanne Baker, recounted the heart-wrenching experience of having to send her daughter out of state for care.

“Driving her up to Tennessee, across state lines, in the middle of a crisis that I never expected to experience, then turning around and leaving her there, is a moment I’ll never forget,” Baker shared.

WellStone CEO Jeremy Blair explained that the center is designed to handle urgent cases of depression, anxiety, and self-harm, offering quick stabilization and short-term stays for children in crisis. While the center can house patients for up to 14 days, most children will likely stay for shorter periods until they can return home safely.

“We’re looking to stabilize kids quickly and return them to their families,” Blair said.

The need for pediatric mental health services has been growing in recent years, with Commissioner Kim Boswell pointing to alarming statistics that highlight the severity of the issue.

“We’ve seen a major increase in anxiety and depression among kids, and the number of girls showing up at emergency departments for self-harm has increased by 188%,” Boswell noted during the ceremony.

Huntsville was selected as the location for this groundbreaking center due to the urgent demand for local services. As Boswell explained, Wellstone had already built its crisis center to add pediatric services, and the growing need in Madison County made it the ideal site for the state’s first youth-focused facility.

Each year, 800 children in Madison County have had to leave the area for mental health care—sometimes traveling as far as Mobile or even across state lines.

In addition to serving immediate mental health needs, the facility will help reduce the risk of children entering the foster care or juvenile justice systems by intervening early.

“If kids can stay in their homes with their families instead of being placed in foster care, we are not only saving the state money but also giving these kids the best chance for a healthy future,” Boswell said.

The Pediatric Crisis Care Center is not just about immediate intervention. It also prioritizes follow-up care to ensure long-term success for the children it serves.

Boswell explained that the center adheres to a “warm handoff” system, which ensures that children leaving the center continue to receive the care they need.

“As you can imagine, if someone has been in an inpatient facility, they don’t go from that intense level of treatment to no treatment,” Boswell said. “Oftentimes, they would be referred to a therapist or continue their outpatient therapy, or maybe even some other support groups and other things for the families.”

While the Wellstone Center represents a significant achievement, Boswell acknowledged that more facilities are needed across the state. She expressed hope that this new model will be expanded, with additional pediatric crisis centers to be established in other areas of Alabama.

As it stands, Huntsville is leading the way, providing hope and critical care for local families in need.