--- title: "Expanding Mental Health Access | Sutter Health" description: "The Lotus Behavioral Health Crisis Center offers Placer County residents experiencing an urgent mental health crisis a short-term place to stay." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/expanding-mental-health-access-1042868323" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Patient Stories](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) / 3. Expanding Mental Health Access # Expanding Mental Health Access * * * 2022 > We are proud to make this investment... As the country now has a new rebranded, nationwide phone number that connects to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the need for locally based mental health support also becomes more clear. Case in point, Placer County will open a new, voluntary urgent care center in September — uniquely designed for residents experiencing a mental health crisis. The [Lotus Behavioral Health Crisis Center](https://vimeo.com/737735582/2a882a2797) will offer county residents a short-term place to stay where they can decompress for up to two days in a calm environment. With the help of trained clinicians, clients will work to address the immediate crisis and create a plan to access needed wrap-around services before discharge. These services range from housing needs, social services or substance-use treatment. “We’ve increased supports for those in crises in recent years, now offering a mobile crisis team for both adults and children that works alongside various partners,” said Amy Ellis, director of the Adult System of Care division in Placer County. “This latest addition does even more to help meet individuals’ needs in a welcoming space, at a time when mental health needs are growing.” Adults who live in the county and are experiencing mental health challenges can call a 24-hour phone line, 1-888-886-5401. Callers will be screened for eligibility at Lotus or a variety of other mental health programs offered. Individuals can also be referred by law enforcement, healthcare and other partners. The Lotus Center is available to any county resident regardless of insurance. The Lotus Center is funded in part through community health investments, including those from not-for-profit Sutter Health. Sutter Health conducts Community Health Needs Assessments every three years, explained Kelly Brenk, the network’s community health director in the Valley Area. The assessments provide an in-depth look into priority health needs within a region, identifying communities of concern and vulnerable populations where community benefit investments are needed most. Placer County’s most recent assessment identified a need for improved access to mental and behavioral health services. At a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony honoring the Lotus Center, Brian Alexander, CEO of Sutter Roseville Medical Center, said: “We are proud to make this investment to expand Placer County’s capacity to provide critical and timely care to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis and are thrilled to have a part in bringing this essential resource to fruition.” Those in the healthcare community are encouraged by the progress made with creating more access to mental health support; they also acknowledge there is more work to do. Placer County along with Sutter’s Mental Health and Addiction Care team participate in the Crisis Now Academy, a 10-month learning community designed to support California counties in optimizing their behavioral health and substance use disorder crisis system. The mental health urgent care facility is part of the core elements identified by the program as a systematic approach to effective crisis care. Jodi Nerell, director of local mental health engagement at Sutter Health, believes the center is just the beginning and is inspired by what is yet to come. “Learnings from our collaboration will only put us in a better position to continue developing and refining the ways we can support our greater community,” she said. ## Discover similar stories Choose a service topic below to read more stories like this one. [Behavioral health care](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories?verticalKey=patient_story&facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_services.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Behavioral+health+care%22%5D%7D%5D) ## Your Mental Health Matters Talk to someone who cares. Our mental health providers are here to support you. [Schedule a Visit](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_providerSpecialties.specialty.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Psychiatry%22%2C%22Psychiatry+-+Child%2FAdolescent%22%5D%7D%5D&limit=10&verticalKey=healthcare_professionals) ## Related articles [View all articles](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) - Patient story ### [No More Suicidal Thoughts: The Therapy That Saved His Life](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/no-more-suicidal-thoughts-the-therapy-that-saved-his-life-2023563862) David Bartley’s struggle with depression continued until he was introduced to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), a treatment that finally offered hope. - Patient story ### [Mental Health Support App Helps Thousands in First Year](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/mental-health-support-app-helps-thousands-in-first-year-2023563864) Sutter's Scout app is an innovative tool for youth ages 13 to 22, empowering them to manage their mental health with confidence and ease. - Patient story ### [Getting NorCal Teens Best Mental Health Support Is a Priority](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/getting-norcal-teens-best-mental-health-support-is-a-priority-2023563880) Audrey struggled with severe depression and suicidal thoughts. The care and support at Sutter Center for Psychiatry made all the difference. [View all articles](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) ## Disclaimer _Each individual’s treatment and/or results may vary based upon circumstances and the healthcare provider’s medical judgment. Testimonials or statements made by any person(s) within this site are not intended to guarantee outcomes or substitute for medical advice._ ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/expanding-mental-health-access-1042868323#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Patient Stories","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Expanding Mental Health Access"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/expanding-mental-health-access-1042868323#videoobject","name":"Sutter Health | Expanding Access to Mental Healthcare Services","inLanguage":"en-US","thumbnailUrl":"https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/817826402001/71a59037-7f65-4f8b-8171-f84ae7f2fca9/f109a25b-5128-4cec-a3ea-93abe7a4a78f/1280x720/match/image.jpg","uploadDate":"2022-09-23T20:09:18.947Z","embedUrl":"https://players.brightcove.net/817826402001/79bcaa57-54d7-453c-9f1f-8ab3ef7b15de/index.html?videoId=6312775588112","description":"Funded in part by Sutter Health, the Lotus Behavioral Health Crisis Center offers Placer County residents experiencing an urgent mental health crisis a short-term place to stay. It offers access needed care, services and resources.","duration":"PT40S"} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/expanding-mental-health-access-1042868323#article","name":"Expanding Mental Health Access","headline":"Expanding Mental Health Access","abstract":"The Lotus Behavioral Health Crisis Center offers Placer County residents experiencing an urgent mental health crisis a short-term place to stay.","description":"The Lotus Behavioral Health Crisis Center offers Placer County residents experiencing an urgent mental health crisis a short-term place to stay.","keywords":["Mental health","Behavioral health care"],"datePublished":"2022-01-01","dateModified":"2026-08-14","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/expanding-mental-health-access-1042868323","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/expanding-mental-health-access-1042868323","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/expanding-mental-health-access-1042868323#breadcrumblist"}},"author":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"video":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/expanding-mental-health-access-1042868323#videoobject"},"articleBody":"As the country now has a new rebranded, nationwide phone number that connects to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the need for locally based mental health support also becomes more clear. Case in point, Placer County will open a new, voluntary urgent care center in September — uniquely designed for residents experiencing a mental health crisis. The Lotus Behavioral Health Crisis Center will offer county residents a short-term place to stay where they can decompress for up to two days in a calm environment. With the help of trained clinicians, clients will work to address the immediate crisis and create a plan to access needed wrap-around services before discharge. These services range from housing needs, social services or substance-use treatment. “We’ve increased supports for those in crises in recent years, now offering a mobile crisis team for both adults and children that works alongside various partners,” said Amy Ellis, director of the Adult System of Care division in Placer County. “This latest addition does even more to help meet individuals’ needs in a welcoming space, at a time when mental health needs are growing.” Adults who live in the county and are experiencing mental health challenges can call a 24-hour phone line, 1-888-886-5401. Callers will be screened for eligibility at Lotus or a variety of other mental health programs offered. Individuals can also be referred by law enforcement, healthcare and other partners. The Lotus Center is available to any county resident regardless of insurance. The Lotus Center is funded in part through community health investments, including those from not-for-profit Sutter Health. Sutter Health conducts Community Health Needs Assessments every three years, explained Kelly Brenk, the network’s community health director in the Valley Area. The assessments provide an in-depth look into priority health needs within a region, identifying communities of concern and vulnerable populations where community benefit investments are needed most. Placer County’s most recent assessment identified a need for improved access to mental and behavioral health services. At a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony honoring the Lotus Center, Brian Alexander, CEO of Sutter Roseville Medical Center, said: “We are proud to make this investment to expand Placer County’s capacity to provide critical and timely care to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis and are thrilled to have a part in bringing this essential resource to fruition.” Those in the healthcare community are encouraged by the progress made with creating more access to mental health support; they also acknowledge there is more work to do. Placer County along with Sutter’s Mental Health and Addiction Care team participate in the Crisis Now Academy, a 10-month learning community designed to support California counties in optimizing their behavioral health and substance use disorder crisis system. The mental health urgent care facility is part of the core elements identified by the program as a systematic approach to effective crisis care. Jodi Nerell, director of local mental health engagement at Sutter Health, believes the center is just the beginning and is inspired by what is yet to come. “Learnings from our collaboration will only put us in a better position to continue developing and refining the ways we can support our greater community,” she said."} ```