Often people are surprised to learn that over a lifetime, close to 50 percent of Americans face a mental health issue that would benefit from professional treatment. Unfortunately, for different reasons, many do not seek or receive the help they need.
That statistic from the Center for Disease Control is cited by Jim Harris, chief executive officer of North Tampa Behavioral Health, a new psychiatric hospital opening this week in Wesley Chapel.
Harris has worked in the mental health care field for 20 years, first as a clinical social worker and then in hospital management. He has been in Wesley Chapel since June making sure all details are in place to welcome patients and family to a nurturing, warm environment that he and his staff are committed to establishing at their new hospital.
“We really have a rare opportunity to build a hospital from the ground up,” said Harris. “We’re creating an open, welcoming, noninstitutional environment that will help counter the stigma that often keeps people from seeking or following through with their treatment.”
North Tampa Behavioral Health is located just east of The Shops of Wiregrass on State Road 56 on 16 acres of wetlands and forest with beautiful views and abundant wildlife and birds.
“This setting is conducive to treatment and helping patients get better,” said Harris. “There is a lot of peace and quiet with no urban distractions.”
The hospital’s foremost philosophy is to treat patients and their families with dignity and respect. “We consider each patient’s unique individual needs during their time with us,” said Harris.
The hospital is opening with a staff of 70 that will grow to as many as 200 or more as it treats more patients in its 75-bed facility. It employs a variety of positions required to run a hospital, including doctors, nurses, case managers, techs, cooks, housekeepers and maintenance workers.
North Tampa Behavioral Health will open one unit at a time as its census grows, offering treatment for adults and seniors with mental health and substance abuse concerns. Harris said he expects many patients to have a dual diagnosis. Often times psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, post-traumatic stress or psychosis can be co-occurring with a sub- stance abuse problem.
The hospital also offers a unique half-day, partial-hospitalization program that provides more intense services than traditional outpatient services. Other levels of care include an intensive outpatient program and a mobile assessment team.
Eventually, law enforcement and mental health professionals will be able to place people needing emergency psychiatric care under the Baker and Marchman legislation to prevent someone from hurting themselves or others.
Supporting its evidence-based treatment programs, North Tampa Behavioral Health offers many physical activities for its patients with amenities including a full gym, outdoor basketball court, walking path, spacious community rooms, café and quiet rooms.
“Our goal is to bring together mental and physical health approaches to psychiatric therapies founded on the most current princi- ples of patient safety,” said Harris.
North Tampa Behavioral Health can be reached at (813) 333-0000, or at www.NorthTampaBehavioralHealth.com. It is located at 29910 State Road 56, Wesley Chapel.
This story was written by the advertising department.