BANGOR – Individuals, couples, families and children in need of substance abuse treatment and mental health services in the Bangor area will have a new option beginning next week.

Manna Ministries will open the doors of a new program at its Main Street location.

Manna director Bill Ray said the counseling services will allow graduates of Manna’s faith-based residential substance abuse program, called Derek House, to continue meeting with the same counselors as they re-enter the community. The services will also be open to the general public.

While the outpatient counseling sessions are not specifically faith-based, Ray said that people need to be healthy, “physically, mentally and spiritually.”

Jim LaPierre, director of outpatient services at Manna, will head the new program. Manna has had a long history of serving working-class families, he said, and the new mental health and substance abuse program is an extension of that commitment.

Manna accepts payment from all insurers as well as MaineCare and also offers a sliding fee scale for services.

For information call Manna at 942-6387.