On October 4th, 2018, United Way of the Piedmont, in partnership with the Department of Mental Health and Spartanburg Regional, celebrated the grand opening of the Eubanks Peer-Support Living Room. The Living Room is named for Judge Ray C. Eubanks Jr. who has been instrumental in the creation of resources, such as the former Eubanks Detox Center, as an alternative for those struggling with behavioral health issues like mental health and addiction. The Living Room is designed to be a safe space where individuals can find support and resources in order to prevent a behavioral health crisis. It is also staffed with peer-support specialists who have faced their own behavioral health challenges and therefore can better guide and connect individuals to resources.

This program grew from the work of United Way’s Behavioral Health Task Force to increase access to behavioral health resources and services.

The clinician-staffed peer living room concept is designed to provide a warm, comfortable place in an informal setting for mental health patients who can receive peer support before a crisis potentially arises.

It also helps cut down crisis visits to the crowded hospital emergency department, where many mental health patients ended up, even though they may not have had an emergency.

It is open to anyone age 16 and older from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and no appointments are necessary.

Peer support specialists are those who have had similar experiences and are in recovery from a mental illness. They also assist with navigating through the mental health system and help connect patients to resources.

Crisis support is offered by a mental health clinician who is on site.