One year later, how is the Behavioral Center operating?

It’s been almost a year since the state’s first behavioral health crisis center opened in Idaho Falls.

That center has been so successful, a second one is opening in Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday.

The crisis center’s coordinator Brenda Price says it’s helped close to 2,000 people struggling with mental health issues.

“Situational depression to long term depression or severe and persistent mental illness,” she said. “Or if they’re thinking on cutting back on their substance use or if they’re thinking of quitting severe substance use disorders.”

Price says more and more people are learning about the center as word spreads.

“People coming from as far away as Cassia County, people coming from Driggs, from Salmon, Challis,” she said.

Which is exactly what state and county leaders hoped for when the center first opened last December. While it’s been enough of a success for a second crisis center to open, Price says she’d like to see more people coming in this next year.

“Because I know there are people out there who need the help. And we’d like to see them get that help,” she said. “We don’t charge for our services, so that’s a big benefit to them. They can come in, get some help and not be charged for it, so they don’t have to worry about the cost.”