Saint Luke's University Health Network held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of its new 24-hour outpatient walk-in mental health clinic in Carbon County.

It's located on North 12th Steet in Lehighton.

We're told it'll serve people ages 14 and older with such things like anxiety, panic attacks, depression, anger and thoughts of suicide.

John Nespoli, President of St. Luke’s Carbon and Lehighton Campuses, spoke with FOX56 about the new clinic.

So often, patients become quite ill and get very severe with their behavioral health challenges that they have to go to a hotel emergency department. We're hoping that this very comfortable, home-like setting will break down some of those barriers and allow the person to get the care they need before it gets very severe and out of control.

We're told the center is the first of its kind in the Commonwealth and offers patients both a comfortable, non-intimidating environment.