CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — MetroHealth announced it will be opening a new psychiatric emergency department on its Cleveland Heights campus later this fall. 

The announcement comes as the St. Vincent Charity Community Center prepares to close the psychiatric emergency services unit on June 30. 

MetroHealth said it won't take new patients at the St. Vincent Charity Community Center psychiatric emergency unit starting at 8 a.m. on June 30 and are rerouting people in need of psychiatric emergency assessments or treatments to be transported to the closest emergency department by them.

The hospital system said the new department will be adjacent to the Cleveland Heights Behavioral Health Hospital to enhance access to medical and mental health support for patients. 

Since there will be a few months between the closing of St. Vincent Charity's psychiatric unit and the opening of the Cleveland Heights department, MetroHealth said it will work closely with the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board, which is responsible for the planning, funding and monitoring of public mental health and addiction treatment and recovery services delivered to county residents, including psychiatric emergency services.

Additionally, MetroHealth said it will continue to provide emergency psychiatric evaluations at each of its four emergency departments. 

“For decades, St. Vincent Charity has provided an essential community service, while supporting the mental health and wellbeing of so many members of our region. I want to personally thank those involved in the entire organization for the incredible work they have undertaken,” said MetroHealth President and CEO Airica Steed in a press release. “MetroHealth is honored to take on this important activity, which is part of our broader institutional commitment to expanding access to the best behavioral health care for all members of our community.”