TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)- Capital Regional Medical Center unveiled a new 24 bed, 14,000 square foot Behavioral Health Center today.
Construction on the new unit began in fall of 2014. It will provide psychiatric services for adult patients.
The hospital says one out of every four Americans experiences a diagnosable mental illness or substance abuse every year, and that mental illness is more common than even cancer, diabetes, or heart disease.
That's why the CEO of Capital Regional, Mark Robinson, says the expansion is so important for Tallahassee and the surrounding area.
"Emergency rooms really aren't equipped to take care of the mental disorders, the staff is trained to take care of more physical injuries, disease, things like that," Robinson said. He also added, "I think what this community is excited about is to have 24 new beds specifically for mental health disorders that we can specifically take care of and concentrate on."
8 jobs will be added because of the new unit, including three board certified psychiatrists.
The hospital says future plans also include adding complementary outpatient programs at the unit.
