PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Mental health care in Pinellas County is about to look a lot different thanks to a new grant from the state meant to give a local facility a facelift.

What You Need To Know

  • The nonprofit mental health organization Personal Enrichment through Mental Health Services, Inc. (PEMHS) was awarded millions of dollars from the state

  • PEMHS' new Children's Crisis Stabilization Unit and Community Diversion Center construction project's aim is to counter the increasing mental health crisis among children
  • The new and improved facility will serve an additional 536 children annually

  • The expansion project is expected to be completed December 2024

That will mean patients will have access to things like a dedicated sensory room for people with special needs and there will be more room to take in children suffering from a mental health crisis.

The nonprofit mental health organization Personal Enrichment through Mental Health Services, Inc. (PEMHS) just received money from the state to expand their services.

“We did receive $7.5 million from the state of Florida, but we still need the community’s help because that’s only gonna pay for the renovations to be able to get new furniture, new things for the children’s unit. New things for the client. It would be updated and feel a lot better in here,” said PEMHS Chief Clinical Officer Nikki Rupert.

With those dollars they just received, Rupert said they already have the renderings showing how their new facility is going to look and the amenities they can now offer.

“What I’m really excited about with the new admissions department is that we’re actually gonna be able to separate the children and the adults,” she said.

With this new expansion, Rupert said PEMHS will now be able to serve more than 500 additional children annually who are suffering from a mental health crisis.

The expansion project is expected to be completed by December 2024.