Governor Hochul Announces Psychiatric Hospital Groundbreaking to Bolster Inpatient Capacity in Central New York

Governor Hochul today announced the groundbreaking on a state-funded overhaul of the psychiatric unit at St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center in Syracuse that will increase inpatient capacity and address safety issues. Funded primarily through a $16.9 million Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation award, the project will create 22 single-bed and four double-bed rooms and relocate the unit, allowing the hospital to provide acute mental health support for up to 30 individuals.

"Increasing inpatient psychiatric capacity statewide has been a priority for my administration, so that any New Yorker in crisis can get the mental health care they need whenever and wherever they need it," Governor Hochul said. "This project will modernize the psychiatric unit at St. Joseph's Health and ensure this facility can treat people in a safe, timely manner."

The state Office of Mental Health and Department of Health joined hospital executives at the facility today to celebrate the groundbreaking. With $16.9 million in state funding, the $21.5 million project will create a centralized layout for the unit that will provide a safer, more therapeutic environment for patients.

The existing facility only has double-bed rooms, which can pose operational issues for the hospital when treating the acute psychiatric patient population. Expected to be completed in late 2027, the renovation will include single rooms that provide enhanced privacy, improved patient safety, a more therapeutic environment and more efficient care delivery for individuals experiencing serious mental health conditions.

In addition to the inpatient unit, St. Joseph's Health is also undertaking renovations to upgrade its Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program. OMH awarded $726,000 to the hospital in capital funding last summer to create more therapeutic spaces and conduct numerous upgrades to the CPEP, which serves as a primary entry point for the facility's inpatient unit.

This summer, St. Joseph's Health's new psychiatry physician residency program was approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, which will help address workforce needs in the Central New York Region. The four-year program is approved for six residents annually and will provide comprehensive experience in diverse clinical settings, including in the hospital's new inpatient unit and improved CPEP, the only program of its kind in Central New York.

New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, "Article 28 hospitals provide critical acute services to stabilize New Yorkers who experience a behavioral health crisis so they can start on the path to recovery. The project at St. Joseph's Health will modernize this facility's inpatient unit and ensure the individuals treated there get high-quality mental health care. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, we are expanding inpatient capacity and strengthening our state's continuum of care so that all New Yorkers can have timely access to treatment."

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, "Expanding inpatient psychiatric capacity at St. Joseph's Health will strengthen the continuum of care in Central New York, supporting patients, families, and providers. I thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to ensuring all New Yorkers have access to high-quality mental health services, while fostering a safe and supportive work environment for providers - allowing them to stay focused on delivering compassionate, patient-centered care."

State Senator Rachel May said, "Investing in the psychiatric unit at St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center is a major step forward for mental healthcare in the Syracuse area. This expansion will enable the hospital to care for more patients and provide a safer, more comfortable environment for patients and staff. Thank you to Governor Hochul for supporting better access to mental healthcare in Central New York."

Assemblymember William Magnarelli said, "As a proponent for more mental health services over the years, these new and additional services are sorely needed and welcome. I congratulate St. Joseph's on receiving this grant and look forward to its moving forward."

St. Joseph's Health Hospital President Meredith Price said, "Every day, we see the growing need for timely, compassionate mental health care, and this project reflects our commitment to ensuring patients have access to a safe, healing environment when they need it most. As the only hospital in Central New York with a Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program, or CPEP, St. Joseph's Health Hospital has long served as a critical access point for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. This new unit, combined with our continued investments in psychiatric services and physician training, will help us meet the increasing demand for care today while strengthening the behavioral health workforce for the future."