Philadelphia to open first urgent care center for mental health needs

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philly's first urgent care for mental health needs is set to open at the beginning of next month, and city officials hope the new clinic can help offset the demand for behavioral health care.

The Merakey Mental Health Walk-In Clinic, which officially opens on Sept. 3, is the product of a partnership with behavioral health provider Merakey and the city’s Department of Behavioral Health & Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS). It’s housed in a white brick building at 3125 North Broad St., just before Allegheny Avenue.

Merakey says the clinic is for adults 18 and older who need same-day mental health care that is not an emergency. Quick counseling sessions, psychiatric evaluations and referrals are among the services people can expect to get at this clinic. Visitors in emergency situations, including suicidal or homicidal thoughts, self-harm or substance use withdrawal, are urged to call 988 or immediately go to a crisis response center.

One of the main goals for Merakey is to help cut down on avoidable visits to emergency rooms and crisis response centers. The clinic will be staffed by Merakey personnel, including therapists ready for walk-in sessions and a psychiatrist on site who can prescribe medication.

According to Merakey, the facility’s exam rooms and waiting areas are designed to look like living rooms, providing a calm environment for patients. Visitors are also offered snacks and beverages while waiting to see a professional.

Some of the issues the clinic is intended to address include depression, anxiety, stress, grief, mood disturbances, substance use assessments and referrals to follow-up resources.

According to DBHIDS, the city has been working on solutions within the behavioral health system since 2019, where it began planning an expansion of its crisis services. Interim Commissioner Dr. Marquita C. Williams says department officials are excited to see many of their plans over the last five years come to life.