Photo Provided NAMI Greater Wheeling opened a new drop-in center on Wednesday in Bridgeport. The location will offer mental health services from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 855-B National Road, Bridgeport.

BRIDGEPORT — The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Greater Wheeling expanded its services across the Ohio River by opening a new location in Bridgeport.

The new NAMI Drop-In Center made its debut on Wednesday and is now open to serve area residents from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Julie Gomez, executive director at NAMI Greater Wheeling, said they were able to open up a second location, with the original one being in Wheeling, through its partnership with Belmont, Harrison and Monroe Counties Mental Health and Recovery Board. She said the new drop-in center, also known as a “clubhouse,” will serve adults in mental health treatment.

“Essentially a drop-in or clubhouse model is that any adult 18 or older who is in mental health treatment can come to our center anytime we’re open. It’s literally drop in, and it’s free. We’re going to be open part time this year, so Monday, Wednesday and Friday. People don’t have to stay the whole day, but they can if they want to,” she said.

Gomez said the center will provide additional resources and support to those dealing with mental health conditions.

“The idea behind it is to create a peer model where people can connect with other individuals also in mental health treatment and become part of a community of support to support them in their treatment and to support them in their journey of recovery. It’s been found to be a really effective model to help individuals both in mental health treatment as well as substance abuse treatment in terms of their journey to recovery,” she said.

“We see it on the Wheeling side, it’s just such a wonderful community of support that the drop-in center provides and that individuals that come to the center really contribute to it, so we’re hoping to replicate that and do that as well in Belmont County.”

According to NAMI’s website, the Wheeling drop-in facility provides “emotional support, assistance with recovery, creative activities, and Friday outings.”

Gomez said the village was chosen to house the new center as it is a convenient location along the river for many of those Belmont County residents who already attend the Wheeling drop-in location, as well as its central relation to the county’s bus route.

“We wanted to be on the river and on the bus line so that way most people of Belmont County would be able to access our location. We’re right on National Road, which is a bus line so anybody from Shadyside or Bellaire or Martins Ferry or even St. Clairsville could hop on the bus and get to us. We really wanted to make sure there was an ease to access us even if they didn’t have their own transportation,” she said, adding that Ohio Valley Options is in the process of opening a group home for those in mental health treatment in Bridgeport which also makes the village a prime location.

“So that way those individuals living in that group home will be able to access our services. … It’s a really great location and we’re really excited about it.”

The drop-in center is located at 855-B National Road. For more information or to schedule a visit, call 740-609-5407, though anyone is welcome to “drop in” anytime during hours of operation.

“We’re here and we’re going to be open. People can just drop in to check us out,” she said.

“We’re just really excited to have a second location and be across the river. That way we can help support more people in terms of people in their journey to recovery,” she said.

Free lunches will be provided to those in attendance.