The mental wellness campus opening in Olathe provides clinical and holistic care

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In a groundbreaking step to address the growing mental health crisis, Children’s Mercy Hospital and Camber Mental Health have collaborated have opened a 72-bed mental health campus at 1277 W. 153rd St. in Olathe, Kansas.

“It’s truly life-changing,” said Sara Schlagel, senior vice president at Children’s Mercy Camber. “We are able to provide services to children and adults like we have never done before.”

The facility is the first of its kind in the metro area and provides comprehensive mental health services for youth and adults.

The campus, a $53 million project, offers a combination of residential care, hospital services and holistic care.

This unique approach is designed to create a more supportive and nurturing environment for patients seeking mental health help.

The need for mental health services has never been greater, Schlagel said.

“We have seen a surge in suicidality and suicidal behavior over the last decade,” she said.

KSHB 41/Megan Abundis

She said this is due to an epidemic of loneliness.

The new campus is designed to provide a therapeutic, warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Schlagel will manage day-to-day operations on campus.

She said her innovative and comprehensive care can make a difference.

The average stay for a child is five to seven days, for adults eight to twelve days.

She said people can expect clinical and holistic care, with expressive therapies such as recreation, art and music, as well as opportunities to connect with nature.

“We focus on building resilience in others, and that is a clear difference in how we do things differently here,” she said. “We focus on emotional well-being, behavioral regulation, executive functioning, and interpersonal safety as part of our resiliency curriculum.”

She hopes to eliminate the stigma of seeking mental health help.

“For some time now, we have felt the need to combine inpatient and outpatient care without feeling that inpatient care is sterile or restrictive,” Schlagel said. “It’s really supposed to be a rejuvenation treatment.”

She said since 2019, the number of suicidal children and teens seeking help at Children’s Mercy’s emergency room has increased by 60%.

“Social media use really hasn’t helped our teenage children,” she said. “It made it harder for them to connect with others.”

The opening of this new campus is an important step in addressing this growing crisis and providing much-needed mental health support to the community.

Emily Snow, senior administrative director of behavioral health at Children’s Mercy, believes the campus will change lives.

“I hope that fewer children have to go through the juvenile justice system,” Snow said. “I hope that fewer children have to sit in the emergency room for up to 120 hours.”

According to Snow, 4,000 children came to the emergency room at Children’s Mercy Hospital last year with behavioral problems.

While 80% were able to go home, 20% required inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, a service that can be difficult to find in the area.

“I think it’s important for families to take their children seriously,” Snow said.

She says the next step would be to call a doctor, 988, the suicide hotline or Camber for admission.

“We had an urgent need for expanded mental health services in the KC area,” said Sheila Albers.

In 2018, Sheila Albers’ son John was killed by an Overland Park police officer while John was experiencing a mental health crisis.

She said as a mother and former school principal, she knew getting help was limited and expensive, and there were waiting lists that stretched for months.

“This center will save lives,” she said.

She has always expected that there would be immediate help when the family is in crisis and she believes this center will provide that.

In her words, it’s a relief.

“Just happy,” she said. It’s a good, good feeling.”

The center is scheduled to open on December 2nd^nd.

For referrals, call 913-890-7500.

To learn more about the Children’s Mercy Illuminate Mental Health Project, click here.

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