ROCHESTER Frisbie Memorial to open mental health center downtown
Portsmouth HeraldJun 11, 2017
Frisbie President and CEO
"There is as much a mental health component as there is a drug component (in substance abuse)," he said, alluding to statistics that indicate as many as 80 percent of people with substance abuse disorders have co-occurring mental health challenges. "We need mental health services in our community. We're creating and developing these services because it's the right thing to do. We owe it to our community to be front and center and be a true resource for them if they need it."
Frisbie opened the Rochester Community Recovery Center in downtown last October to help address the dearth of accessible substance abuse services. Marzinzik said the mental health center is the next step in that mission.
The hospital recently signed a five-year lease for the space. Marzinzik said the building will require
Frisbie signed a contract with Dover-based
Marzinzik said he hopes the center will be open at least a couple of nights a week and on Saturdays to serve veterans and homeless individuals seeking service free of charge.
Marzinzik said he expects the center to operate at a loss because of the free service to veterans and homeless individuals, and the fact it won't turn away anyone who doesn't have insurance or means to afford services. That operating loss won't be shifted to
"From a hospital standpoint, we're going to lose money," he said. "We're not doing this to make a profit. We're doing this to help our community."
Marzinzik estimated the center could lose
In addition to the mental health center, Marzinzik said Frisbie is working to implement a new pain management program. He said one of the focuses is to reduce the number of individuals who turn to street drugs to cope with chronic pain once their prescriptions run out or are no longer effective.
Marzinzik said he has a meeting next week to discuss ways to expand services at RCRC. In addition, he said Frisbie will continue to discuss how it can work with in the
"We will continue to look for all other opportunities to expand," he said. "I have no boundaries. If you come up with a good idea and it makes sense, I'm in."