Urgent care psychiatric services now available in Siouxland

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Siouxland Mental Health opened a first-of-its-kind psychiatric urgent care clinic in Siouxland.

The only way to get psychiatric health before this was to go to a therapist and get a referral. This should ease the crunch on hospitals and provide immediate aid for mental health issues.

"Well, we number one want to keep patients out of the hospital, we want them to have rapid access to care and there is nowhere that you can walk in and receive psychiatric services. We have about ten patients walking in a day now," said Sheila Martin, CEO of Siouxland Mental Health.

Martin says there have been more people walking in since the pandemic began. Their issues range from just wanting to talk with someone to a need for immediate mental help.

"I'm seeing a lot of anxiety, a lot of depression, a lot of relapses, people just struggling and don't know where to go for help. I have seen people that are suicidal, people that are just overwhelmed, said Cassidy Carr, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.

Until now the nearest place with some form of mental health urgent care was in Des Moines.

The Siouxland Mental Health Center is located at 625 Court Street in Sioux City. It's open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.