Officials celebrate groundbreaking of Oklahoma's largest mental health hospital
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — It was an historic day in Oklahoma City and a sign of progress when officials broke ground on a new $150 million mental health hospital.
State officials said Donahue Behavioral Health Hospital will bring top of the line care for adults and children across Oklahoma.
"This incredibly beautiful building is going to exude excellence," said Ali Friesen, Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
On Thursday, several officials shoveled confetti in celebration of the new mental health hospital.
"We're a metro of 1.5 million people, a city of 700,000. You know, we need these services. We need a hospital like this," said David Holt, Mayor of OKC.
The city's mayor, officials with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Oklahoma leaders and legislature all talked about how breaking ground illustrates a turning point in the care Oklahomans can receive.
"In Oklahoma City, for the first 130 years of our city's history we never put anything into mental health services at the city level," said Holt. "This is obviously a very exciting occasion."
The 330 bed facility will be the largest hospital in the state of Oklahoma and is expected to bring in more jobs and resources to Oklahoma City, something leaders said marks a major milestone for advancing mental health.
"The reality is we have a mental health crisis in this country and in the state of Oklahoma, and we need to be able to get facilities like these opened as quickly as possible, and as staffed as possible so we can start treating patients and getting them on the road to recovery," said Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma.
Officials said they hope to open the facility in 2026.