Where to Go? Urgent Care for Mental Health

Many of us know how to navigate the medical services in our community for routine medical issues. Over time we’ve learned when to go to the emergency room vs. urgent care vs. our primary care clinics. But that knowledge and experience doesn’t always translate to behavioral health concerns we face. Where should you go when the primary concern is substance abuse or mental health? Where should you, your parents or kids go for care?

An Option for Behavioral Health Care

For decades our community had very few options for immediate care, other than our hospital emergency departments. That is changing. In the spring of 2020 UnityPoint Clinic – Behavioral Health Urgent Care opened to help the community more quickly access care. This is a walk-in mental health clinic located at 1250 E. 9th Street in Des Moines (just across the street from Iowa Lutheran Hospital). Current hours of operation are 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Behavioral Health Urgent Care clinic provides services to individuals who are needing mental health services. Our multi-disciplinary team of social workers, nurses and medical providers have designed a service and physical environment especially for behavioral health patients — comfortable and safe. Services may include but are not limited to:

• Psychiatric evaluation and assessment
• Addiction medicine
• Crisis services
• Connecting to Community resources
• On-site coordination to Eyerly Ball Community Mental Health Services and Orchard Place.

Both pediatric and adult patients can be seen at the Behavioral Health Urgent Care clinic. Why would someone come to Behavioral Health Urgent Care? The team of specialists is ready to help you with conditions, such as: anxiety, depression, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts. Mental health is part of a person’s overall health. Some symptoms that may indicate a need to seek professional help:

• Withdrawal from family or friends
• Excessive worry or fear
• Feeling sad, lonely, isolated
• Extreme mood changes
• Often feeling irritable or angry
• Changes in sleeping habits
• Difficulty concentrating on daily tasks
• Nervous energy or restlessness
• Overeating or appetite loss
• Loss of interest in things you once enjoyed
• Having thoughts of harm to self or others
• Difficulty perceiving reality

This new clinic is a great addition to the healthcare continuum for residents of central Iowa. If you or a loved one are in need, just stop by or call (515) 263-2632.

For more information and to learn more, check out Behavioral Health Urgent Care | UnityPoint Health.

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