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SALT LAKE CITY -- LDS Hospital is adding a wing to deal with a new influx of patients with mental health issues.
Dr. Mark Foote, Chairman of the Psychiatry Department at LDS Hospital, said the number of patients in Utah is on the rise and the trend has been overwhelming hospitals and employees.
"There were often days in the emergency rooms where there are no beds in the entire valley to put people in," Foote said. "Basically it's kind of the worst day of their life, and if we don't have a place for them to go. It makes things really tough," He said.
Foote said suicide risk and substance abuse rise to the top of concerns, with Utah rates that are rapidly increasing; a trend he doesn’t expect to slow down anytime soon.
"As we improve the screening that we do in primary care practices, we actually will identify more patients who have problems with depression and anxiety and bipolar illnesses and begin to treat them. And as we begin to treat them, we will probably see an increased need for services," Foote said.
Hospital officials said the new wing expanded the psychiatric ward by 46 rooms and now holds over 50 rooms; all intended to diagnose, treat, and heal mental health patients. Brianna is a reporter and weekend anchor for KSL News Radio. Contact her at: bbodily@ksl.com or on twitter @BriannaBodily
