Editor's note: This article was updated at 8:50 a.m. on Nov. 22 to reflect the correct spelling and title of Heath Hayes.
Norman legislators announced Red Rock Behavioral Health Services as Cleveland County’s primary mental health provider in a meeting Tuesday evening.
The meeting took place at the NOUN Hotel where legislators and Red Rock representatives discussed plans to combat mental health struggles in the state.
Red Rock Behavioral Health Services is an Oklahoma-based nonprofit mental health organization, which provides services such as group therapy, psychiatric care, HIV prevention education and crisis intervention.
Red Rock is based in Oklahoma City and has locations in several Oklahoma cities, including Chandler, Chickasha, El Reno, Elk City, Hobart, Kingfisher, Lawton, Shawnee, Watonga, Weatherford and Yukon.
In anticipation of Griffin Memorial Hospital being replaced by a new facility in Oklahoma City, Red Rock intends to establish an adult crisis unit and urgent recovery care center in Norman.
Verna Foust, CEO of Red Rock, said the project will cost around $10 million and construction is estimated to be completed in two years.
According to Faust, 81% of adults seen at Red Rock have a serious mental illness and 78% of children seen have a serious emotional disturbance. Adults who have a serious mental illness die on average 25 years younger than the general population, mainly from preventable health conditions.
Faust said Red Rock’s plan to implement an outreach van for social determinants focuses on assisting OU students, homeless and high-risk populations.
“That's really the goal of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. At this point, our evolution is to meet people where they're at, wherever that may be,” Heath Hayes, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services deputy commissioner, said.
Rep. Jacob Rosecrants (D-Norman), Rep. Annie Menz (D-Norman) and Rep. Jared Deck (D-Norman) attended the meeting to support Red Rock’s efforts.
“We want to make sure that there is not a dip in our care as we transition Griffin Memorial Hospital as we add Red Rock Behavioral Health Center to our community,” Deck said.
For mental health assistance, the Red Rock Norman Adult Crisis Unit is located at 900 E. Main St., Bldg 52.
Red Rock Norman Outpatient Office is located at 900 N. Porter Ave., Suite 110.
This story was edited by Alexia Aston and Peggy Dodd.
