U.S. Attorney Statement on Opening of Unity Center for Behavioral Health Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. – Billy J. Williams, United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, provided the below statement on the opening of the Unity Center for Behavioral Health in Northeast Portland.

“We are pleased to learn of the opening of the Psychiatric Emergency Service at the Unity Center on February 2, 2017 to walk-ins and transfers. This is a much needed service for people in crisis. This facility incorporates a calming environment with peer and community-based services designed to maximize favorable outcomes. The United States Department of Justice identified the need for such a facility over five years ago and we are pleased to see the culmination of efforts of private and public stakeholders, committed to making these services a reality through the Unity Center. While there is much work to be done to address the gaps in community-based mental health services throughout Oregon, we applaud the efforts made to achieve this important step towards closing that gap.”

The Unity Center for Behavioral Health is a 24-hour behavioral and mental health services center providing immediate psychiatric care for people experiencing mental health crises in the greater Portland metropolitan area. To learn more about the Unity Center, please visit www.unityhealthcenter.org.