David Lawrence Centers opens doors to new mental health clinic in Collier County

The David Lawrence Centers in Collier County has officially opened the Diermeier Access and Integrated Care Center, designed to expand access to mental and physical healthcare for adults across the Gulf Coast.

"We know that people with persistent mental illness die 10 to 20 years sooner than others who don't have mental illness, and oftentimes it's because they can't get from appointment to appointment. So we're very fortunate here to be able to offer their mental healthcare in the same building as where they can see their primary care physician," said Kimberly Dye, vice president of advancement at the David Lawrence Centers.

The center offers walk-in urgent care, outpatient behavioral health services, primary care, veteran-focused programs, and an on-site pharmacy, all in one building. Leaders say bringing these services together will help reduce delays, eliminate barriers, and make it easier for people to get treatment when they need it.

The facility was made possible through a $4 million gift from Jeffrey and Julie Diermeier, local donations, and support from the state.

"Through the community, through the belief in what we need to do and obviously through our supporters, Jeff and Julie Meyer, Senator Kathleen and Bob Rommel, two are very, very important in the process, and all of the donors that are helping us. We're in a $160 million initiative to totally transform mental health care here in Collier County," Dye said.

The center will officially begin offering care next week. Leaders say this marks a significant step forward for mental health care along the Gulf Coast.