In April 2019, Citizen Advocates opened an integrated Behavioral Health Clinic in Massena to provide greater access to St. Lawrence County residents.
Fast forward to this year, and the organization is moving the clinic into a newer, much larger space located at 16 Phillips Street offering outpatient mental health and addiction prevention, treatment and recovery services.
Since opening the new clinic in Massena, over 780 patients have received treatment in the first year alone, and the number is expected to grow with increased access to much-needed services. In fact, the square footage of the new clinic is nearly 3,500 square feet, which is almost twice the space offered at the 25 Hospital Drive location.
“While many of us adjust our lives during this national public health emergency, Citizen Advocates is ready to serve the mental health and addiction needs of St. Lawrence County,” said James Button, Chief Operations Officer at Citizen Advocates.
“If you’re in crisis, come see us. We also offer tele-mental health to our patients so they are able to receive the same, leading-edge care from wherever they are.”
In addition to providing access to high-quality services and skilled staff in a convenient location in downtown Massena, the clinic also addresses key health needs currently present in the community. According to the 2019 St. Lawrence County Community Health Assessment:
- Hospitalization rates for mental health treatment exceeded the statewide average.
- Hospitalization for mental health treatment doubled between 2008 and 2016.
- Drug overdose death rates doubled between 2013 and 2016.
- Hospitalization rates for substance abuse, alcohol-related diagnoses and opiate overdoses in Massena exceeded the statewide average by 171 percent.
The Citizen Advocates integrated Behavioral Health Clinic is located at 16 Phillips Street in downtown Massena. Clinic hours are Monday-Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, and for an appointment call 315-764-8076.
“There is without question, an unmet need for these essential services in St. Lawrence County, and by expanding our presence in Massena we are eliminating some of the barriers individuals face when seeking access to mental health or addiction treatment,” said Mr. Button. “More so, we are grateful for the strong and positive response we have received from the community since opening our clinic.”
In addition to providing a wide range of quality clinical services, Citizen Advocates offers supports that promote individual health through stable housing, job training and transportation.
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