Local leaders gathered in Chula Vista Friday to mark the completion of the region’s seventh Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU).
The County’s partnership with Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center expands access to urgent behavioral health care for South Bay residents.
The CSU, co-located within the hospital’s new Emergency Department, is designed to deliver short-term, intensive treatment in a safe, therapeutic environment.
“We are excited about this partnership with Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center because it is providing another access point for people with urgent behavioral health needs.” said Nadia Privara Brahms, director of County Behavioral Health Services. “The CSU offers a will calming environment for people in crisis with support from licensed clinicians who can help them on their path to recovery.”
The unique placement of a CSU at an emergency room for a well-known medical center creates a more appropriate and supportive pathway for people in a behavioral health crisis.
CSUs now operate across the county 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing immediate mental health clinical stabilization, support and treatment services to people facing a behavioral health crisis. They provide crisis intervention, behavioral health assessments, medications, and peer support.
The region’s next CSU is expected to open this spring in El Cajon, marking another important step in strengthening the continuum of care and improving access to timely, compassionate behavioral health services in San Diego County.
