Mental-health facility for Mont. veterans to open

KALISPELL — Officials plan to open a $7 million, 24,000-square-foot inpatient mental-health facility for veterans on June 3 at Fort Harrison west of Helena.

Officials with the Veterans Affairs Montana health-care system tell the Daily Inter Lake that the 24-bed facility will offer acute psychiatric care and residential rehabilitation.

Montana veterans have been traveling to VA facilities in North Dakota, Wyoming and Idaho to receive help with post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and acute psychiatric treatment.

Included among the staff at the new facility are psychiatrists, psychologists, a peer support technician, a licensed addiction counselor, social workers, seven registered nurses and 12 licensed practical nurses.