Collier County is facing the worst mental health and substance use crisis in its history, with increasingly more individuals turning to David Lawrence Centers for behavioral health support each day. While services such as therapy and counseling remain in demand, the heartbreaking reality is that DLC continues to see year-over-year increases in the number of individuals in crisis.
In 2024 alone, DLC provided care to 1,380 adults through its crisis stabilization unit. That represents a nearly 33% increase in clients from 2019, and a staggering 58% increase from a decade earlier. These individuals are more than just a number. They are our family, our friends, our neighbors and our colleagues.
DLC’s crisis stabilization unit is a 36-bed, inpatient mental health facility that provides evaluation and treatment for individuals experiencing a psychiatric crisis, such as suicidal thoughts, severe depression or anxiety, or threatening behaviors. Individuals often stay in the unit between three to seven days, as DLC’s team works to stabilize them and creates a care plan best suited for their individual needs.
As demand has increased, DLC has grown and adapted to support those in need. While we have increased the number of licensed beds in our crisis unit, the need often exceeds the number of beds available for both adults and children. When this occurs, we work diligently to create an environment that is conducive to caring for all our clients…