By Braden Daniello
Long Island residents will soon have a new place to turn in moments of crisis.
This Saturday, CN Guidance & Counseling Services is opening what it calls the county’s first Community Crisis Center — a 24/7 facility in Hicksville that will offer immediate mental health and substance-use support to Nassau residents.
The center, located at 950 South Oyster Bay Road, will be open around the clock, 365 days a year, and available to anyone ages 5 and up.
“Our goal is to provide more for people,” said Jeffrey Friedman, CEO of CN Guidance. “When someone is in a crisis and they normally wouldn’t have a place to go to, now they can come to a place like ours.”
The setup is designed to be fast, calm and welcoming. As soon as someone walks in, they’re greeted by trained staff known as “Peers” — certified employees who have lived experience with either a mental health diagnosis or substance use disorder.
Check-ins are intentionally brief so patients can begin receiving help as quickly as possible.
“You can come in immediately at any time, any day,” Friedman said. “The sooner people can get access to care, the sooner they can begin on their road to recovery.”
After check-in, nurses will take vitals and conduct assessments. All patients must be experiencing a mental health or substance-use crisis and be older than five.
From there, guests might be guided to one of several “Hope Rooms,” private spaces furnished with a reclining chair and seating for one companion. Nurses can administer treatment in these rooms, which are designed to help patients decompress.
There’s also a community area stocked with food, beverages and entertainment options to help people feel more at ease outside of their Hope Room. Bathrooms and showers are available for patients and their guests.
For families, the new center includes dedicated “family rooms” — spaces used for young children or for patients who have no choice but to bring their child with them. These rooms feature a TV and even a digital gaming table.
The building is also designed for easy access by police and emergency responders.
Braden Daniello is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication.
— Interior photos of CN Guidance & Counseling Service by Braden Daniello. Top: Inset, CN Guidance & Counseling Services press release
