Uvalde, Texas (NEXSTAR) – Governor Greg Abbott on Monday announced a $34 million initiative aimed at strengthening mental health services in Uvalde.
Construction on Uvalde's new behavioral health campus is expected to begin later this year, according to a press release from the governor's office. This project aims to help children and adults facing mental health crises throughout his 32 counties in Uvalde and surrounding areas.
The proposed facility includes a dedicated youth unit with a 16-bed crisis unit for adults and a 16-bed crisis unit tailored for children and adolescents. The campus' focus is on crisis stabilization and providing her 24-hour support to individuals facing mental health emergencies. Additionally, the facility will serve as a 24/7 designated diversion center, welcoming walk-in participants and individuals referred by law enforcement.
“When Texans feel safe and healthy, our communities thrive,” Abbott said in a statement. “Texas remains steadfast in its efforts to expand the reach of essential mental health resources.” Stated.
Former Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin said the need for the facility long predates the local mass shooting in May 2022. In the mass shooting, a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers. The House committee's investigation report into the shooting found the shooter had a history of mental health problems and missed warning signs.
“We have no help on this, not just in Uvalde, but throughout rural Texas,” he said. “Right now, when a county judge has someone to deal with, someone who wants to get help, someone who needs to be evaluated, we have to drive all the way to Texarkana, Texas, to find a bed. have been to.”
McLaughlin said he has spent the past nine years or so advocating for more mental health resources in Uvalde and surrounding counties.
Dr. Bob Keiler, Freespira's chief clinical officer, praised the state's efforts to build the center and emphasized the importance of crisis intervention when it comes to preventing individuals from harming themselves or others. emphasized.
“There are many magical moments where we can quickly intervene and stabilize a crisis so that a long-term hospitalization is not required,” he says. “That's not always the case. But this has been an award-winning, great service for the counties surrounding Uvalde and similar demographics in East Texas.”
Kyler said the biggest concern for the project is getting adequate staffing at these facilities, and that a hybrid of in-person treatment and telehealth for certain types of care could help with staffing. suggested.
“It's much easier to build a building than it is to staff a mental health professional. Recruiting mental health professionals to rural areas is very difficult, and we're not sure how much they will use telehealth as part of their staffing solution. I don’t know if I will use it,” he said.
The project will be operated by the Hill Country Center for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities under contract with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
The City of Uvalde allocated seven acres of land at US 90 and King Fisher Lane to house the campus, which includes two different buildings spanning approximately 50,000 square feet.
During the 88th Congress, Abbott signed House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 30, appropriating $33.6 million for the construction of the Uvalde Behavioral Health Campus. An additional $5 million was allocated for the facility's first year of operation.
The new behavioral health campus is scheduled to open in summer 2025.
