Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare
Laureen Pagel, Ph.D., CEO
[email protected]
Press Release
April 1, 2022
Yulee, Fla: Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare today announced that Saturday, April 2nd, 2022, is the organization’s thirty-year anniversary of service in Nassau County, Florida. The nonprofit behavioral healthcare organization originally opened under the name Nassau County Mental Health and Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council, Inc. in 1992. After undergoing a name change in 2001, the organization rebranded to Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare in 2012 to better reflect the idea that healing begins or ‘starts’ in Nassau County. Starting Point’s motto is ‘Healing Begins Here.’
“We could not be happier to celebrate thirty years of service in Nassau County,” says Laureen Pagel, CEO at Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare. “The work we do isn’t always easy, but it’s important and necessary. The reality is that our family members, community members and neighbors struggle with mental health and substance use disorders. I am honored to continue to serve our community, to have a hand in making Nassau County a happier and healthier place to live, and to provide a safety net for our neighbors that need a safe place to shore their troubles. I look forward to thirty more years of service and thank Nassau County and all our partnering organizations for their continued support in this pursuit.”
Dr. Pagel has been with Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare since 1997 and served as the Chief Executive Officer since 2008. Under her 25 years of leadership, the organization has doubled in size and budget with plans to offer a mobile unit and open two new locations in Fernandina Beach and Callahan later this year.
The organization continues to offer mental health and substance use treatment to residents of Nassau County, Northeast Florida, and Southeast Georgia. Some of their primary service offerings include individual, group, and family therapy, comprehensive assessments, medication management, and psychiatric evaluations. In addition to the clinical services they offer to adults and children, Starting Point provides 24/7 emergency assistance and free community outreach activities to spread the message of attainable mental well-being for everyone.
To learn more about the services at Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare, please visit www.spbh.org.
I was surprised, and somewhat chagrined that this story of the evolution of Starting Point did not include that extended period of time when it was known as Sutton Place, named after its founder, and was located on 8th. Street in Fernandina Beach. How soon we forget!. Malcolm Noden-Former board chair.
Hey Malcolm, please check out the ‘History’ page on the Starting Point Website. It covers a lot of what you reference above. All my best.
https://www.spbh.org/history/