RiverValley Behavioral Health has officially opened the Onyx Center, which will serve as a residential substance abuse treatment for men in the community.
RVBH President and CEO Dr. Wanda Figueroa-Peralta said the center will serve 16 men when at total capacity. The residents will receive personalized care along their recovery journey.
“[This] will offer personalized care for men in a retreat-like environment where they will receive individual, family and group therapy, relapse prevention, career guidance and case management support by peer counselors,” Figueroa-Peralta said.
The Onyx Center acts as a sister program to The Amethyst Center, a 16-bed recovery center for women and new mothers. The program will operate under the direction of a licensed clinical drug and alcohol counselor and licensed professional clinical counselors.
“We believe that the community-based, homelike atmosphere and therapeutic interventions provided at The Onyx Center will serve as a vital resource to our clients in achieving recovery,” said Shane Sheriff, RVBH Senior Director of Residential Substance Use Services.
Figueroa-Peralta said it’s key to discuss substance abuse and work with clients to improve their health.
“Substance abuse is a sign of a mental health breakdown,” she said.
With May as Mental Health Awareness Month, Figueroa-Peralta said that she and RVBH are working to remind the community that mental health is not something to be ashamed of and should be acknowledged, understood, and supported.