SHREVEPORT, La. – Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport and Oceans Healthcare today announced the opening of Louisiana Behavioral Health. The facility, located at 9320 Linwood Avenue in Shreveport, expands access to behavioral health care in the community and will execute a phased opening, accepting patients beginning January 20. It will provide inpatient care for patients 18 and older immediately, adding geriatric services for patients 55 and older by March and an intensive outpatient program by the end of 2021.
Louisiana ranks in the top five states in the nation with the highest percentage of adults reporting symptoms of anxiety or depression. It ranks second among states with the highest percentage of adults with a serious mental illness who did not receive treatment in the past year. Louisiana Behavioral Health hopes to help combat these statistics by expanding access to behavioral health services in the North Louisiana community.
“During this year of isolation, profound loss and rapid change, the need for behavioral health services has only increased,” said Stuart Archer, CEO of Oceans Healthcare. “So today isn’t simply about celebrating the opening of a new facility – it’s much more important. It’s about expanding services that have been out of reach of people who have needed them for too long. We look forward to creating meaningful change at Louisiana Behavioral Health with Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport and improving lives by making behavioral health care more accessible.”
With rising rates of depression, anxiety and substance abuse, experts predict the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to have an ongoing negative effect on mental health as more people cope with isolation and job loss. Louisiana Behavioral Health will provide Shreveport and the neighboring communities with a new dedicated space for ongoing healing and treatment.
“In 2018 we made a commitment to increase access to health care for the people of North Louisiana. Together with our partner Oceans Healthcare, we are more than doubling the number of behavioral health patients we can serve with today’s opening of Louisiana Behavioral Health. Our investment in this partnership, including a fully renovated facility, improves access to care and provides an environment conducive to healing for these patients in need,” said Chuck Daigle, CEO of Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport.
