Just under 53 million people who struggle with mental health in the United States were not receiving any care as recently as two years ago.

St. Luke’s University Health Network cut the ribbon Thursday afternoon on a 24-hour walk-in mental health clinic in Lehighton that it hopes will help address that shortfall.

Located in the old Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital emergency room, 211 N. 12th St. in Lehighton, to serve people 14 and up by assessing and addressing issues such as anxiety, panic attacks, depression, grief, thoughts of self-harm, mood swings, anger, school phobia and others.

“The primary goal is to empower individuals to manage their mental health and well-being,” said Jodi McCloud Missmer, St. Luke’s service line administrator of Behavioral Health Services. “We want to work with them to find their goals for recovery. Experiencing recovery when it comes to mental health is critical. And we feel that with this environment and the treatment offered here, we’ll be able to teach them necessary and specific skills for therapeutic change.”

The clinic was made possible by grant funding obtained through the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services as well as a partnership with Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health and Developmental Services.

“Many people can experience mental health issues but are hesitant to seek care,” said Dr. Najma Khanani, medical director of the Lehighton Campus Psychiatric Services. “We hope that this center can help people and it will be available at any time whether it is 2 in the afternoon or 2 in the morning in a compassionate, caring atmosphere.”

Those seeking services or support, she added, will be greeted by a medical receptionist and will be assessed in a relaxed, nonclinical environment and will be connected with a resource provider or referred to a service that best fits their needs.

“The fact that 50 million people in the country who struggle with mental health aren’t getting any care is astonishing to me,” John Nespoli, president of both St. Luke’s Lehighton Campus and new Carbon Campus, said. “That means tens of thousands of our neighbors, friends and family members are ill and not getting any care. So I guess the hope is that we can break through some of that. It feels like a home in here, it’s such a warm environment. So it’s obviously less threatening than the emergency department.”

Nespoli said the clinic couldn’t have been established without the help of Tina Clymer, administrator of Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health and Development Services.

“Tina was instrumental in making this happen,” he said. “She guided us along the way and she does amazing work every day so we can take on this challenge. As you may have noticed, the world is difficult right now, I think the mental health challenges have never been greater. And that applies to all ages. So this is just so, so timely.”

The Carbon County Veterans Affairs office will also have a presence at the clinic.

“We have the highest per capita veteran population in the state,” Nespoli said, “and Christine LeClair has wonderful educational and prevention programs at the county to take on the challenge of suicide events. We’re open to other community partnerships as well, whether it’s children’s services or senior services.”