DALLAS, Sep 9, 2022 — Children’s Health℠, one of the largest and most prestigious pediatric health care providers in the country and the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas, today announced that Children’s Health will initiate and create an approximately 100-bed inpatient unit at the new State Psychiatric Hospital for children and adolescents. The adult hospital is being developed through a partnership between UT Southwestern Medical Center and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The pediatric unit is in addition to 200 adult beds at the new state hospital, which is currently in the planning stages of design and construction and expected to open in fall 2025 with the pediatric addition scheduled to open in early 2026.
“This donation is a key part of our comprehensive strategy and ongoing commitment to expand access to pediatric and adolescent behavioral health services in North Texas,” said Lindsey Tyra, executive vice president and chief strategy officer at Children’s Health. “We know that addressing this growing pediatric mental health crisis requires a concerted, coordinated response from resources and experts across our community. In collaboration with UT Southwestern through our joint pediatric enterprise, we are building a sweeping and forward-looking approach to this escalating problem that will also be part of a larger statewide system.”
According to the Children’s Health 2021 Beyond ABC Report, an estimated 133,375 North Texas children suffer from an emotional disturbance or addictive disorder, and in 2020 alone, there was a 24% increase in mental health-related Emergency Room visits for children ages 5 to 11. By supporting the expansion of inpatient pediatric psychiatric services at the new state hospital, more North Texas children and adolescents through age 17 with complex mental health needs will have access to behavioral health services when they need it most.
“Our goal is to build a state-of-the-art facility that meets the needs of the communities we serve,” says Dr. Hicham Ibrahim, professor of psychiatry and Associate Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Ambulatory Services at UT Southwestern. “This donation gives us the opportunity to better address the mental health crisis affecting pediatric patients in our region and provide them with the specialized care they deserve.”
“This hospital will save lives, and with this donation, that’ll include the lives of children as well,” said Scott Schalchlin, deputy executive commissioner for the HHSC Health and Specialty Care System. “By expanding access to children and adolescents, we’re helping to address a truly critical need in our communities: taking care of the mental and physical health of our young people.”
For updates on the hospital’s progress and additional information on how Children’s Health is working with UT Southwestern and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, visit State Hospital Construction Projects.