As the number of patients with mental health needs steadily increases, Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital is adding two rooms dedicated to emergency behavioral health patients.
A lack of mental health and substance abuse services were flagged in two recent community health needs assessments, which Bozeman Health does every three years to ascertain where their services could improve. But the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened an already urgent problem, said Maureen Womack, system director of behavioral health at Bozeman Health.