BROOKHAVEN — A Navy veteran and nurse practitioner saw a need for mental health services in Brookhaven and has stepped up to serve. Laterra Arnold cut the ribbon on her new business at 232 West Court Street Friday morning. 

A native of Hazlehurst, Arnold said she has lived in Brookhaven for 10 years now. She saw a need and opened her practice called Focus Solutions Mental Health Solutions. 

Arnold has experience as a nurse serving in the US Navy as a nurse for 13 years and 15 years working as a nurse at Baptist and University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. 

“They did not have a psych ward at Baptist so the patients were placed in the Neuro unit. I have been studying the mind for my whole nursing career,” Arnold said. “In eighth grade, I wrote down all the goals I had for a class. My main goal was to become a nurse and earn a doctoral degree. I’m working on my doctoral degree from the University of Alabama.”

She said her practice would help with medical evaluations, psychiatric evaluations, therapy needs and referrals via telehealth. Focus Solutions will serve anyone who has a mental disorder. The practice is open Wednesday through Friday with scheduled appointments from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and walk-ins from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. with scheduling and walk-ins. 

Arnold said it means a lot to her to be able to provide mental health care in the community. Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Garrick Combs recognized Arnold’s efforts. 

“This is a worthy and needed cause. We welcome you to the downtown area,” Combs said. “Anything we can do to support you, we are here for you. We do appreciate you.”