ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital is set to open a new 144-bed facility designed to enhance services in eastern North Carolina, US.

The hospital, situated at 2820 MacGregor Downs Road in Greenville, will provide a range of inpatient and outpatient programmes.

Located less than a mile from ECU Health Medical Center, the new hospital is a substantial investment in the region's behavioural health infrastructure.

The facility, which broke ground earlier in November 2023, will cater to various acute mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and co-occurring substance use disorders, supporting adults, seniors, children, and adolescents.

This establishment of the hospital is the result of a joint venture partnership between ECU Health and Acadia Healthcare.

The hospital is scheduled to open to patients in September 2025, with a gradual build-up of capacity to follow.

ECU Health CEO Dr Michael Waldrum said: “By partnering with Acadia Healthcare and offering specialised, patient-centred behavioural health care that will also serve as a training ground for future clinicians, this hospital will support patients throughout eastern North Carolina and directly advances our mission to improve the health and well-being of the region.”

Academic integration of the hospital with ECU’s Brody School of Medicine will also address the shortage of behavioural health professionals by serving as a training site for students and residents.

Acadia Healthcare CEO Chris Hunter said: “This partnership between Acadia Healthcare and ECU Health is built on shared values and a shared vision: to expand access to world-class behavioural health services close to home.

“We are proud to stand beside ECU Health in this important work and look forward to the positive impact this hospital will have on the lives of patients and families in this region.”

The construction of the hospital was led by Thomas Construction Group, with Stengel Hill Architecture providing the architectural design.