Renner Behavioral Health Clinic Opens in Moundsville
Shelley Hanson Trending
A ribbon cutting ceremony and open house was held Thursday to celebrate a new outpatient behavioral health clinic in Moundsville.
The Renner Behavioral Health Program opened about a month ago at the newly renovated Teletech building, in partnership with the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute.
The ceremony was hosted by the Marshall County Chamber of Commerce.
WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital received a $2.25 million grant from the Renner Foundation, founded by the late Dr. R. Richard Renner of Hundred and his wife Jennie Steindorf Renner of Wheeling, to help make the program a reality. A portion of the money was used to renovate the space for the new clinic.
"We all know in the state of West Virginia that behavioral health is one of the most pressing issues we face in this state and across the country," said Douglass Harrison, president and CEO of WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital. "The need is tremendous. ... We have a vision that this will become our anchor site."
He added that mental health still has a stigma attached to it in our region, which is why the hospital is hoping people's physicians can get the referral process started for those who need it. He described it as a "warm hand off" to mental health professionals.
Marshall County Commission President Mike Ferro was among the dignitaries at the event. He said he was proud to have WVU Medicine expanding its services in the community, and noted the program is welcome and much needed.
"It is important for all of us to realize that our mental health is just as important as our physical health," Ferro said.