Heritage Behavioral Health Center to Expand to Northgate Plaza To Ensure Access to Care for All

Submitted By Heritage Behavioral Health Center

     For the past 68 years, Heritage Behavioral Health Center has been serving individuals and families in need of behavioral health services across Macon, DeWitt, and Piatt counties focusing on our mission to improve the mental and physical well-being of those we serve and to advance behavioral health in our community. Heritage has been committed to expanding access to care over the past several years to serve anyone, anytime, anywhere. As we look to our future and the continued increased needs of adults, youth and families in our community, Heritage must expand and secure space that allows for all to have continued access to care.
     Heritage’s Board of Directors is excited to share with our community that we are accepting a generous building donation from Sally Andreas to allow for our expansion of services (building location is Northgate Plaza, 2800 N. Water Street, Decatur, IL). Sally Andreas shared that “My late husband Mick and I have always thought of Heritage with a soft spot. We are just so proud to be able to contribute to the expansion of Heritage so that they can do what they do best, help people.” “Our Board of Directors believes this expansion supports our mission and is essential to ensure access to care for all.” says Ruth Hibberd-Anderson, Heritage’s Board Chair.
     “This is bigger than Heritage, this is about our community. We are committed to providing access to mental health, substance use and primary care services to all” says Mary Garrison, Heritage’s President and CEO.
Mental health and substance use diagnoses do not discriminate; any of us can be impacted no matter our age, gender, or socio-economic status. We know that 1 in 5 adults experience a mental illness, and 17% of youth (6-17) experience a mental health diagnosis” (NAMI, 2024).
     These numbers represent individuals who we know have received help – there are many adults and youth who are not represented in these numbers. We know that the COVID-19 Pandemic revealed the significant mental health needs of all of us yet, most importantly our youth and Heritage is here to help.
     “I look forward to the support of our community as we expand and continue to provide necessary mental health and substance use services, education and awareness”, says Garrison.