One local psychiatrist seeks to treat the body and mind.

Dr. Raja Sohail Abbas, a psychiatrist with Blue Mountain Health System, said patients with depression or a substance abuse addiction often won't go to a medical doctor, but some medications used to treat depression can cause weight gain or metabolic disorders. The obesity can cause problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, which when left undiagnosed and untreated, can shorten a person's life.Abbas wants to create a center where the patient can easily seek psychiatric care and medical help.The two sides work together so nobody is left out.It's called an Ethos Clinic, and he's putting his idea into action."There's nothing like this," he said. "I want to make a place where patients come and get better."Abbas purchased a 3-acre property in Emmaus where the Lavender Tea Room restaurant used to be located. He hired the KCBA Architects in Allentown and has begun construction with plans to open this year.The center will be built in two phases. Phase I will be a 3,500-square-foot space with a psychiatric clinic that will provide counseling, medication management, and other treatments."We are also in the process of setting up intensive outpatient programs with a focus on substance abuse," he said. "A Suboxone program will be set up, as well for opioid-dependent patients."Abbas wants the outpatient programs to include life skills."You're taking away an addiction," he said. "If you can, provide them tools that they can use to fight these addictions and depression."Phase II will be a 10,000 to 15,000 square-foot space that will include a psychiatric crisis center, an urgent care center and a partial hospitalization program. There will be a primary care physician for the psychiatric patients in order to better coordinate their health care needs, he said."I envision three such facilities in the valley, one in Carbon, Northampton and Lehigh County" Abbas said. "I would hope to expand into other neighboring counties eventually as well."Right now, Abbas sees patients at this offices at Palmerton Hospital and in Bethlehem on Easton Avenue, but he's looking for larger office space in both locations. He has eight full-time employees and six part-timers, but anticipates adding another 12 to 15 full-time people by the end of this year.Eventually after all three clinics are built, Abbas plans to hire between 25 to 30 people at each location. His staff will be a mix of physicians, therapists, physicians assistants, nurse practitioners, mental health technicians and other support staff.