Southwestern Mental Health Center rebranded as ElevaCare

Key Takeaways:

• SWMHC has rebranded to ElevaCare after 65 years
• The name change aims to reduce confusion with similarly named organizations
• Removing ‘mental health’ from the title seeks to lessen stigma
• ElevaCare is partnering with New Life Treatment Center for substance abuse services
• New psychiatry testing services have been introduced
• Focus on improving care coordination for comprehensive support

A New Identity to Elevate Care

Like many embarking on fresh starts in the new year, the Southwestern Mental Health Center (SWMHC) has unveiled a new identity as ElevaCare as of January 1, 2025. Serving Nobles, Cottonwood, and Jackson counties for approximately 65 years, this significant rebranding reflects a strategic move to enhance services and better represent the organization’s mission.

Breaking Away from Confusion and Stigma

“We’ve actually talked about this with our Board of Directors for probably the past five years, right around COVID,” said Executive Director Luke Comeau. “One of the challenges we face is we get mistaken a lot for other companies and often get calls about other services.”

In regions like Worthington alone, numerous organizations bear the “southwest” moniker, leading to frequent confusion. Beyond misidentification, having “mental health” in the organization’s title has posed challenges.

“Also having ‘mental health’ in the organization’s title doesn’t help with the stigma, even in the year 2025,” Comeau explained. “With ElevaCare, we wanted to capture something simplistic that explains what we do. We want to elevate people to a better place in life.”

Expanding Services Through Partnerships

In alignment with its renewed identity, ElevaCare is expanding its services. The organization has partnered with Worthington’s New Life Treatment Center to offer assistance to those struggling with substance abuse.

Introducing Advanced Psychiatry Testing

As of January 6, ElevaCare has launched new psychiatry testing services. These services enable testing for fetal alcohol syndrome, autism, and other neurological conditions, enhancing the organization’s ability to diagnose and treat a wider range of conditions.

Enhanced Care Coordination

In a press release, ElevaCare emphasized its commitment to improving its care coordination model, focusing on the overall well-being of individuals.

“The key here is care coordination,” Comeau noted. “We can follow patients through with what they need; we can see them all the way through their mental health journey.”

Looking Ahead

With a fresh name and an expanded suite of services, ElevaCare is poised to make a significant impact on mental health care within the community. By addressing stigma and improving accessibility, the organization aims to elevate individuals to better places in their lives, fulfilling its renewed mission.