Children and teens in Contra Costa County will have a dedicated psychiatric emergency unit starting Monday, according to Contra Costa Health Services.
The new unit will serve children ages 6 to 17 for the first 24 hours of a diagnosed psychiatric emergency. It is located at 25 Allen Street, within the same building as the Miller Wellness Center and near the Martinez Health Center.
The staff of Pacific Clinics has been contracted by Contra Costa Health Services to operate the new unit. Professionals will be available to assist with crisis intervention, mental health assessments, medication support, and therapy. Additional services will include alcohol and drug screening, case management, and peer support to help guide families through the recovery process.
“The goal is to stabilize the unit’s patients and connect them with mental health services without requiring inpatient hospitalization,” Contra Costa Health Services stated.
Previously, children in psychiatric crisis were treated alongside adults at the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, a setting that wasn’t ideal for the unique needs of younger patients. In 2023 alone, there were 1,072 admissions for pediatric psychiatric patients at the regional medical center. Most were adolescents and teens suffering from severe depression and at risk of dying by suicide—highlighting the urgent need for a youth-focused emergency care solution.
To support the health and safety of the patients and staff, the facility will maintain rigorous sanitation protocols. Regular medical office cleaning is essential in clinical environments like this to reduce contamination, control infection, and provide a welcoming, hygienic space for vulnerable children receiving care.
This specialized unit represents a vital step forward in addressing the mental health crisis among youth in the region, offering timely, compassionate care in a setting designed with their specific needs in mind.
I hadn’t heard such a facility was in the works. I think it’s a darn good idea.
I think that this is a great idea. Having that small adolescent room in the middle of all the adult psychiatric patients was really creepy. I was unfortunately evaluated at the Martinez center a few times as a teenager and young adult and that place gave me the creeps. And the doctors nurses were awful. I don’t know how they expect people to focus on their mental health when all they can think about is escaping that creepy holding facility.