Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

PROJECT PURPOSE

According to the American Psychiatric Association, ongoing stress and uncertainty from Covid-19 have increased demand for mental health services. Currently, there are not enough psychiatric hospital beds to address the need - this will become a more significant limitation as we experience the pandemic?s aftereffects. Addressing barriers like timely access to higher levels of care for both mental health and addiction services will ensure that negative behavioral health effects of Covid-19 are negated. ODMHSAS proposes to build a replacement facility for Griffin Memorial Hospital and add an additional 100 beds to this new build. Oklahoma desperately needs to replace its 100-year-old state psychiatric hospital. The cost proposed is net after sales of the Norman land where the current hospital resides. This new facility would be state of the art, developing the behavioral health workforce and investing in Oklahoma-grown expertise in psychiatry through enhanced residency programming.

EVIDENCE

Patients commonly utilize a psychiatric hospital specifically because of what the hospital offers. Psychiatric hospitals provide a safe environment for people to be stabilized, monitored, and set up for continuing aftercare once discharged to outpatient services. Psychiatric services and practices are informed by both State and Federal standards/laws, as well as several professional mental health governing boards and committees.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

There has been a higher prevalence of anxiety, depression, and substance use among Oklahomans during the pandemic. Along with increasing rates of depression and anxiety, there has been an increase in Oklahomans who have died by suicide. Fear of COVID-19 infection contributed to an increase in the prevalence of mental health conditions, especially those related to anxiety and depression. Public health pandemic response measures, such as social distancing requirements and business closures, further increased stress and risk factors for mental health conditions because of economic uncertainty and increased social isolation. Oklahoma has also seen an uptick in pandemic-related overdose deaths, primarily caused by fentanyl and analogous substances. Building a new and expanded psychiatric hospital will add much needed capacity to address current limitations of more intensive levels of care in Oklahoma and the impact the pandemic will continue to have on Oklahomans.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The project performance would include expedited admissions and expanded treatment options for those needing inpatient levels of care. Also enhanced relationships community stakeholders like families, law enforcement, and schools by increasing real-time access to higher treatment needs/behavioral beds, and improved overall health and wellness of the individuals served.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma