St. Paul’s new free mental health clinic the “Living Room,” located at St. Paul’s Highland Bridge, has marked 111 visits as of November since its soft opening in August. Jacki Yellowflower, a peer specialist supervisor at the Living Room in Highland Bridge in St. Paul. (John Autey / Pioneer Press) The model aims to offer an alternative to the emergency room for those in need of mental health support or in a mental health crisis. Appointments can be scheduled in advance, but walk-ins or call-ins are available, with no appointment necessary, said Jacki Yellowflower, a peer specialist supervisor. Emma Norton is the nonprofit organization that runs the Living Room and also helps with housing, support and healing services for women and families who experienced homelessness. The model for the Living Room was developed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI, and has locations across the country. This is the first one in Minnesota operating post-pandemic. The Living Room’s services are free to all due to funding from various grants, according to Lauren Daniel, Emma Norton clinical director. A living room The space looks just like it sounds. With couches, pillows, a fireplace, a salt lamp and paintings, the space is designed to be comforting for people while they meet with a peer support specialist. The space is open from noon to 8 p.m., seven days a week, to the general public. Daniel said the peer support specialists add another layer of support as they are people with lived experiences in their own mental health or substance use journeys. “[They] have experienced being at rock bottom and being able to get out, so they serve as that beacon of hope and can connect with people in that one-on-one way,” Daniel said. “[Doctors] don’t often have the capacity to do that versus sitting across from someone who has been there and experienced that and knows what that feels like.” The majority of visits surround general support and come from current clients in Norton’s neighboring Restoring Waters residence, a housing residence for people more than 60 years old and small families, but they hope more community members take advantage of the service. Daniel said they are equipped to help anyone ranging from needing to vent to having a crisis. “We wanted to be an immediate walk-in, drop-in service to help with de-escalation and connection to other programs that folks wouldn’t necessarily get if they were being turned away from the [emergency department],” Daniel said. In the midst of the holiday season, the location can serve as a haven for those in need. “Maybe you can’t get in with your therapist for a couple of weeks and you want to come in and get some of that support or vent or talk about what’s going on,” Daniel said. “We’re here for that.” Connecting people with resources The Living Room can also connect people with other resources they may need, including for housing, therapy, crisis teams and building safety plans, according to Daniel. “We’ve been able to connect folks to crisis beds and get them into really quick therapy services,” Daniel said. “But really we would love to see more folks from the community coming in and using the space just for that general support.” A next goal is to provide telehealth services in 2025. Daniel said they are currently negotiating a grant with the state that will allow them to expand into that area. Services in the Living Room are free of charge and can be accessed on a walk-in basis, or calling ahead. Appointments are not necessary. It is located at 2265 Hillcrest Ave. in St. Paul. Learn more at emmanorton.org/programs/supportive-services/. Related Articles Local News | Ruby Hunt, former St. Paul City Council and Ramsey County Board member, dies at 100 Local News | Charges: Man opened fire in his St. Paul apartment building, sending bullets into other units Local News | Lake Phalen Rowing lands on national map following teens’ victory in Boston regatta Local News | St. Paul man gets probation in copper wire theft case Local News | Judge disqualifies DFL House candidate over Roseville residency; ruling could grant majority to GOP