PrairieCare Commemorates 100,000 Patients While Expanding Vital Mental Health Services

Celebrating a Milestone in Mental Health at PrairieCare

PrairieCare, a prominent provider of specialized psychiatric services in Minnesota, has reached a remarkable milestone by treating its 100,000th patient. Since opening its doors in 2011, PrairieCare has focused on evidence-based mental health care for individuals across all age groups. The organization proudly announce their achievements in 2024, where they have provided essential mental health support to nearly 20,000 patients across nine different locations.

With a broad range of services extending from prenatal care to treatment for young adults, PrairieCare has tailored its approach to meet the specific needs of diverse populations. This year, the organization made a significant adjustment by increasing the maximum age for inpatient treatment in their Brooklyn Park location from 28 to 35 years. This change responds to growing demand among young adults facing various mental health challenges like career pressures and relationship difficulties that often arise in their late twenties and early thirties.

Mental Health America highlights concerning statistics—around 64% of Minnesota youth with major depression, amounting to roughly 70,000 adolescents, currently lack access to necessary mental health care. To combat this, PrairieCare expanded the capacity of its Maple Grove residential treatment center to accommodate 20 beds specifically for teens aged 12 to 18. This crucial development seeks to provide support to a demographic often overlooked in mental health discourse.

Another pivotal enhancement within PrairieCare is the introduction of an inpatient program designed for individuals dealing with co-occurring substance use disorders. This initiative aims to provide compassionate care for patients aged 35 and under who are no longer physically dependent on substances but continue to face mental health challenges stemming from their previous substance use. Current data suggests that nearly two out of five young adults in Minnesota experience serious mental health issues, with approximately a third also grappling with substance use disorders.

According to Dr. Christopher Wall, PrairieCare's Chief Medical Officer, the rise in mental health and substance use disorders calls for expanding access to comprehensive and evidence-based treatment services. Dr. Wall remarked,