Staff Chula Vista Today
El Cajon will soon have a new mental health and crisis care center aimed at changing the way the community accesses urgent emotional wellness services, especially in situations where every minute matters.
The County of San Diego announced in a statement the opening of the new East Region Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU), a 14,000-square-foot facility located in El Cajon that will begin operations this summer as a resource available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
According to the County of San Diego statement, the facility will become part of a regional network of crisis stabilization units that now includes eight centers throughout the county, with the goal of providing immediate care to individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises.
The new center aims to reduce dependence on hospital emergency rooms, police detentions, or prolonged institutionalization for individuals who need immediate emotional stabilization but do not necessarily require hospitalization.
Instead, CSUs provide a calmer and less clinical environment, featuring reclining chairs instead of hospital beds, as well as services such as clinical evaluations, medication support, brief therapy, peer counseling, and connections to follow-up treatment programs.
The community impact is twofold: on one hand, access to urgent mental health care is expanded; on the other, pressure is reduced on hospitals and emergency systems that often operate beyond capacity.
The expansion responds to the need to strengthen crisis care services across all regions of the county. With this opening, each of the six regions served by the county’s Health and Human Services Agency will have at least one specialized center of this kind.
The project required an investment of nearly $29 million and was built on county-owned land. It also incorporates LEED environmental standards and solar energy infrastructure, allowing it to operate under a “net zero energy” model, meaning it produces at least as much energy as it consumes.
Beyond the infrastructure itself, community organizations and healthcare professionals have emphasized that these types of centers can be crucial during crises, especially for families who may not know where to turn when someone experiences an acute episode of anxiety, psychosis, severe depression, or substance intoxication.
The facility is also being presented as an early intervention alternative that could help prevent more serious outcomes, including prolonged hospitalizations or involvement with the justice system.
How to Access Help
The service will be free and available 24 hours a day once operations begin this summer. Individuals may arrive voluntarily or be referred by emergency services, hospitals, or law enforcement agencies.
For mental health guidance and support in the county, community members may contact:
2-1-1 San Diego hotline, available 24/7 for information and referrals to community services.