Throughout the pandemic, the need for more mental health support became apparent across the state. A new facility in Westminster hopes to alleviate some of the need.
Intermountain Health — formally SCL Health — and Acadia Healthcare Company broke ground on a new inpatient behavioral health facility Wednesday that has been named West Pines Behavioral Hospital.
The new facility will house 144 beds and include comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services. The behavioral health hospital is designed to care for patients with acute symptoms of mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and substance abuse disorders.
“The shortage of mental health resources is a national problem that we also face in Denver,” said Scott Peek, Front Range market president for Intermountain Health. “West Pines is in an accessible location that will offer quality treatment programs and build upon its legacy of providing quality behavioral health services to Front Range Communities.”
In 2022, Colorado was designated a Mental Health Care Health Professional Shortage Area because only 34.6% of the state’s mental health needs were being met. According to the report, Colorado would need another 113 practitioners to have the designation removed.
Although an increased focus has been placed on improving the state’s mental health, some people are still experiencing wait times for appointments from 30 to 60 days, Vincent Atchity, president and CEO at Mental Health Colorado told The Gazette.
The new hospital is expected to open in Fall 2024 at 11455 Huron St. While it will not be the solution to fixing Colorado’s mental health needs, it could alleviate some of the acute and intensive outpatient behavioral health services needed along the Front Range.
