OC is home to some of the most diverse communities in the country and ranks #4 for the largest international population in the nation. When a region is built around diversity, inclusion and active lifestyle, it’s no wonder that people of all demographics come here to live their best lives. Mental health has become a global concern over the past years and Orange County has made great progress to improve the lives of our neighbors and inspire communities around the world to do the same. Be Well OC is one of many examples of how OC has become an inclusive place for everyone to thrive.
Prior to the pandemic, 1 in every 5 individuals in our community would face mental health challenges each year. Anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, and other mental health issues are being increasingly heightened by the effects of the pandemic. In these unprecedented times, the mental health movement is more important than ever before. Be Well OC works to bring together a robust, community-based, cross-sector strategy to create a community-wide, coordinated ecosystem to support optimal mental health.
No single entity can solve the complex challenges of mental health and substance use disorders alone. However, by partnering with several local healthcare entities and organizations, Orange County has created The Be Well campus, which pulls together multiple levels of care in one location to address our community’s mental health and substance use needs. Located at 265 Anita Drive in Orange, the 60,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will provide best-in-class mental health and substance use disorder services to all Orange County residents who seek care.
The first of three planned campuses, this Be Well OC facility features a crisis stabilization center for mental health needs, and the County’s first recovery station for substance use disorders. Other services include withdrawal management, adult residential treatment, and an integrated support center. While the facility primarily serves adults, it will also feature limited youth and adolescent crisis stabilization services, and strong partnerships with Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and other community-based organizations to assist with further treatment needs.
“Be Well is about systems transformation, and this is a significant step forward. Hospital emergency rooms aren’t designed to effectively address mental health crises,” said Marshall Moncrief, CEO, Be Well OC. “So, we’re adding the equivalent of urgent care for mental health and substance use into a comprehensive care facility. Patients and families experiencing a mental health crisis deserve the best care, at the right place, and at the time they need it most. This also helps ER doctors re-focus on physical health emergencies, which in the midst of a pandemic is more important than ever before.”
Be Well OC works collectively as a community to remove the stigma around mental health challenges. The campus will transform mental health and substance use care in Orange County, while helping lift people out of, or prevent them from falling into poverty, illness, isolation, incarceration and homelessness. The first Be Well OC facility serves as an inspiration for healthier, stronger communities throughout California and the nation for the future years to come.
About Be Well OC
The vision of Be Well OC is to lead the nation in optimal mental health and wellness for all residents of Orange County. Be Well OC brings together a robust, community-based, cross-sector strategy – public, private, academic, faith-based and others – to create a community-wide coordinated ecosystem to support optimal mental health. For more information visit bewelloc.org
