Texas Governor Greg Abbott has revealed plans for a new Terrell State Hospital, set to cost $573 million and aimed at enhancing inpatient psychiatric care for North Texans.
This new facility will span 415,000 square feet and feature 275 beds: 175 non-maximum security, 50 maximum security, and 50 for adolescents. As stated in Abbott’s announcement, adult and adolescent patients will have separate living spaces, while the maximum-security unit will incorporate strict safety measures for patients, staff, and the community.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, Abbott emphasized the importance of this hospital in Texas’ broader initiative to modernize state mental health facilities. “Since 2017, we’ve dedicated over $2.5 billion for building and upgrading these vital facilities to ensure quality care is accessible to all Texans,” he shared.
Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young remarked, “Texans deserve health care close to home, which is why we’ve invested in facilities like the Terrell State Hospital.” She added that the completed hospital will serve as a beacon of hope and recovery for vulnerable individuals in North Texas.
Construction is expected to wrap up by late 2027.
The original Terrell State Hospital, which first opened its doors in 1885, currently serves 31 counties in the region. This redevelopment aligns with a larger strategy by Texas legislators to bolster health infrastructure across the state.
Since 2017, lawmakers have allocated over $2.5 billion for the replacement, renovation, or expansion of state hospitals. Additional construction is set to begin soon for a new hospital in Wichita Falls, along with new facilities in Amarillo and Lubbock.
In recent highlights, two Texas hospitals made it to the list of 250 best hospitals: Houston Methodist Hospital ranked 93rd and UT Southwestern Medical Center came in at 243rd.