Mental health walk-in clinic opens in Vista

VISTA — North County residents suffering from mental illness are able to show up and see a counselor immediately at a Vista walk-in clinic thanks to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA).

The Exodus Recovery Mental Health Walk-In Assessment Center is located at 524 West Vista Way. The clinic provides services Monday through Friday from noon to 8 p.m.

“This is great news for North County residents in need of mental health treatment,” said Alfredo Aguirre, director of HHSA’s Mental Health Services division. “Mental health professionals will assess the severity of consumers’ mental illness and refer them to appropriate services, increasing access to urgent psychiatric evaluations and reducing use of emergency and inpatient services.”

The new program will offer several mental health services, including crisis intervention, substance use assessment, domestic violence screenings, medication and case management, information and referrals to community-based services.

These services are being provided by a $1 million budget from the Mental Health Services Act as a result of a one percent tax passed in 2004 for those earning $1 million or more income.

The assessment center will serve 1,560 unduplicated consumers, 18 years and older, annually.

Priority will be given to people who are indigent or receive MediCal.

Individuals with other healthcare coverage may be referred to alternate resources and services.

For more information, call the county’s multilingual Access and Crisis Line at (800) 479-3339.