BY JIM HERRIN HERALD-CITIZEN
Mental Health Cooperative celebrated the grand opening Wednesday of a new Cookeville location that is intended to serve people who may otherwise be unable to find treatment.
“We’re focused on those with TennCare because it’s very difficult for them to get mental health services,” said Dr. Corey Cronrath, interim chief executive officer. “We are covering the entire package for those that are underinsured.”
But he said MHC also serves those with private insurance — or no insurance at all.
“We want to take care of the whole person,” he said. “We are geared to connect you to the services [that you need].”
He said those services may include psychiatric treatment, counseling, or assistance with navigating life’s challenges.
“That may be a care manager that’s connecting you to local services for food insecurity, housing instability or difficulty getting clothing or [paying] utilities,” he said.
Cronrath and Cookeville Facility Director Kayla Jackson said the services are meant to help fill an unmet need.
“I was born and raised here. I’ve never lived anywhere other than Cookeville, Tennessee,” Jackson said. “So I have sat across from families who have felt that they didn’t have access to care. That they had nowhere to turn. They had no hope.”
She said MHC hopes to change that perception.
“I’ve seen what it costs someone to sit in the emergency room for hours in a crisis,” she said. “I’ve seen the toll it takes on families and individuals that have to choose between going to work to support their family that day and getting relief from their suffering. Those are the people that this facility was built to serve.”
She said MHC had clients in mind “from the very first blueprint” of the new building at the end of Humble Drive off South Willow Avenue.
“Every therapy office, every hallway,” she said. “We wanted more space for individual and group therapy, more calm and private environments for people who walk through the door every day on what is often the hardest day of their life. And we also wanted more room to grow along with the needs of this region.”
Cronrath said the facility was built larger than it absolutely needed to be.
“We did that on purpose because we are growing into this facility,” he said. “This is a really big statement to Cookeville and the surrounding area that we are here to serve you, and we plan on being here for a long time.”
