Monarch’s new Stephen M. Morris Behavioral Health Center will expand access to urgent behavioral health care and short-term youth crisis stabilization in Cabarrus County
When a child, teen or adult is experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, it can be hard to know what to do first.
Families may ask: Is this an emergency room situation? Is there another place that can help? What kind of care is needed right now?
For many people, the emergency room, commonly referred to as the ER, feels like the only option. Emergency departments are essential for life-threatening or serious medical emergencies, including injuries, overdoses, loss of consciousness, chest pain or other immediate medical concerns. But when the primary concern is behavioral health, an ER may not always provide the calm environment or specialized support a person needs.
Behavioral Health Urgent Care, often called BHUC, can offer a different starting point for people experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis who do not need emergency medical treatment.
What Is Behavioral Health Urgent Care?
Behavioral Health Urgent Care provides immediate assessment, stabilization and psychiatric support for people experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
At a BHUC, people are supported by trained behavioral health professionals in a safe, structured setting. The care team works to understand what is happening, help calm the crisis and determine what level of care may be needed next.
For some people, the next step may be returning home with referrals for outpatient therapy, psychiatric care or community-based services. Others may need a higher level of short-term support, such as Facility-Based Crisis care.
At the new Stephen M. Morris Behavioral Health Center in Concord, people will enter care through either the Adult Behavioral Health Urgent Care or Youth Behavioral Health Urgent Care. From there, the care team will assess the person’s needs and determine the most appropriate next step.
ER vs. BHUC: How Do You Know Where to Go?
The emergency room is the right place to go when someone has a serious medical concern or an immediate life-threatening emergency.
Behavioral Health Urgent Care may be the right option when someone is experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis and needs immediate support, but does not require emergency medical treatment.
This may include situations where a person needs:
- A safe place to be assessed and supported
- Psychiatric support
- Medication evaluation
- Support for a substance use crisis
- Help when emotions, behaviors or symptoms feel too difficult to manage safely
- Connection to ongoing therapy, psychiatric care or community-based services
When to Call 911 or Go to the ER
Families should call 911 or go to the emergency room if a person has a serious injury, overdose, loss of consciousness, medical emergency or another immediate life-threatening concern.
If there is immediate danger or someone cannot stay safe, call 911.
If someone is experiencing emotional distress, thoughts of suicide, a substance use crisis or another behavioral health concern and you are not sure what to do, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate support. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7 support for mental health, substance use and emotional distress.
Crisis Care Coming to Cabarrus County
The Stephen M. Morris Behavioral Health Center, set to open in 2026 in Concord, will bring multiple mental health and substance use disorder services together in one location, including an Adult BHUC and a Youth BHUC.
The Stephen M. Morris Behavioral Health Center will help expand access to urgent behavioral health for Cabarrus County families and communities across North Carolina.
When someone you love is in crisis, knowing where to go can make a frightening moment feel more manageable. Emergency rooms remain essential for medical emergencies. Behavioral Health Urgent Care can offer specialized support when the primary need is mental health or substance use crisis care.
To learn more about the Stephen M. Morris Behavioral Health Center and how it will serve Cabarrus County, visit ProgressStartsHere.org.