Mental Health Partners opens new Drop-in Help Center in Lyons

Mental Health Partners opens new Drop-in Help Center in Lyons to help residents cope with emotional distress following flood

BOULDER, COLO. (Dec. 10, 2013) Mental Health Partners opens a Drop-in Help Center in Lyons Dec. 12 to aid residents there who are coping with emotional distress related to the September flooding. This site was selected because Lyons was extremely hard hit by the 2013 Colorado flood. In addition, the Lyons facility is near surrounding mountain communities that were also impacted by the flood whose residents can use the new center’s services. The center, at 329 Main Street, Lyons, is a room at Ferg’s Inn, donated for this use by owner Craig Ferguson.

The Drop-in Help Center at Longmont’s First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 805 3^rd Ave., has closed. In addition to the new Lyons center, Mental Health Partners has two others in operation: Mental Health Partners, 1333 Iris Ave. (Broadway and Iris), Boulder, with limited Spanish-language services at this location; and OUR Center, 303 Atwood St., Longmont, with English and Spanish-language services available. The hours for all MHP Drop-in Help Centers are Monday-Friday, noon to 7 p.m. For information, the public should call 720-415-9740.

“We decided to reallocate our staff to where there was a greater need,” said Janine D’Anniballe, MHP’s Director of Emergency and Community Services. “The traffic had slowed at the Longmont location and we wanted to have a greater presence in the mountain communities, so we are sending staff to Lyons.”

Each Drop-in Help Center is staffed with a case manager and a clinician. The case manager assists people with finding resources, such as housing and rental assistance, food, clothing and the replacement of lost articles. The clinician provides emotional support and helps people normalize their feelings.

“People are exhausted and drained physically and emotionally,” said D’Anniballe. “When a catastrophic event like this flooding occurs, people often experience a wide range of distressing emotions. Our trained staff help flood survivors process feelings and explore ways of coping with the current circumstances.”

No appointments are necessary to visit the Drop-in Help Centers and the first three visits are free. Starting Dec. 17 the Drop-in Center at the Boulder location (1333 Iris) will be offering a flood support group from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The group will not meet Dec. 24 or Dec. 31 and will resume Jan. 7.

Contacts: Janine D’Anniballe, Ph.D., jdanniballe@mhpcolorado.org or 303-413-6309
Barbara Darling, Communications Manager, bdarling@mhpcolorado.org or 303-413-6215