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Peer Support Center opened in Gloucester

The Middle Peninsula-Northern Neck Community Services Board welcomed guests Tuesday to celebrate the opening of its new Peer Support Center adjacent to Riverside Walter Reed Hospital in Gloucester.

The building also hosts Emergency Services for Crisis Intervention Team assessment. Individuals in an acute mental health crisis or dealing with a substance use disorder can be evaluated on site thanks to a team of emergency services and Peer Support workers.

Individuals placed under emergency custody will receive their assessment free, thanks to grants from the state’s Department of Mental Health. Voluntary assessments will still be billed to insurance.

CIT operations manager Paula Deninger said that crisis de-escalation is easier in a facility like this compared to a hospital or jail setting. As it stands, communities without facilities like this often first address mental health crises in a hospital or jail, which can cause stress that often escalates in a situation between staff...

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