Dona Ana mental health crisis center still not open after 10 years

The Dona Ana County crisis triage center is getting closer to opening its doors .

The center was built three years ago and cost taxpayers $2 million.

The idea for the center was developed 10 years ago and it is designed to help those with mental health problems.

But today , there’s nothing but empty chairs and beds inside.

Ron Gurley, an activist for mental health, says he’s ready for the crisis triage center to open its doors but he’s worried about the County’s decision to find a private operator to contract with.

“You cannot make money off of adult mental illness with out cutting corners,” Gurley said.

Jamie Michael with the Dona Ana County Health and Human Services Department says when an operator signs, it will accommodate those with mental health problems .

“We want to make sure they leave here with resources so once the crisis has passed we don’t want to open the door and say see you later,” Michael said.

Michael says the reason the facility’s been empty for so long is not because of a lack of funding but because the County has been trying to find the right company for the job .

“There are not a lot of free standing buildings like this that we can look at and say we want that exact thing here,” Michael said.

The center would be a place for law enforcement to bring the mentally ill who are causing harm to themselves or others in the community.

They’d be evaluated and given resources instead of going back on the streets .

Gurley says once it finally opens it’ll greatly benefit the community.
“Lets try this and see lets do it because it works other places,” Gurley said.

Michael’s hoping for a grand opening by the end of this year