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Nonprofits fill void after mental health hospital closure

Palm Beach Post
Nov 20, 2019

WEST PALM BEACH -- Four mental health nonprofits are partnering to fill the void left behind after the abrupt closure of Palm Beach County's only stand-alone psychiatric hospital.

Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network, the organization that managed the now-closed Jerome Golden Center for Behavioral Health in West Palm Beach, sought help from two mental health advocacy organizations, the National Alliance on Mental Health and Mental Health America.

Also offering help is the 211 Helpline, which connects callers to local resources.

"At a time when we are in desperate need of more inpatient beds and mental health services, the Golden Center has had to close its doors. It will take all of us working together to help pull the pieces together for those who were receiving treatment," said Sharon L'Herrou, president and CEO of 211 Helpline.

The four organizations will make a formal announcement on Monday. They plan to redirect patients to open beds and available treatment programs.

The Golden Center, which treated mostly indigent patients, shut down its 44-bed hospital on 45th Street near St. Mary's Medical Center and ended its treatment programs on Oct. 18 amid financial problems.

lramadan@pbpost.com

@luluramadan

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