LUBBOCK, Texas — In a move to strengthen mental health services for rural Texans, Governor Greg Abbott has announced the start of construction on the Lubbock Psychiatric Center, a new 50-bed maximum-security hospital designed to expand high-quality care across the South Plains region.

Approved by Governor Abbott and the 88th Texas Legislature, the $121 million project is scheduled for completion in 2027. It will add much-needed inpatient psychiatric care capacity for residents in and around Lubbock who currently face long wait times and often have to travel far from home for treatment.

“Texas continues to increase access to mental healthcare in every corner of our state,” said Governor Abbott in a statement. “This new hospital will offer Texans in the South Plains high-quality treatment closer to home. I thank the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for their crucial work to expand and improve mental health services for Texans in rural communities and across our great state.”

Facility Designed for Healing and Safety

The 108,430 square-foot hospital, located off Peach Avenue near Highway 84, will be built with modern mental health standards in mind. The facility will feature advanced treatment spaces that promote recovery and healing, as well as robust safety measures including secure fencing, video surveillance, alarms, electronic monitors, and enhanced staffing to protect patients, employees, and the surrounding community.

“Ongoing investment in our state hospitals leads to more resilient individuals and healthier communities,” said Scott Schalchlin, Deputy Executive Commissioner for HHSC Health and Specialty Care System. “Patients at the Lubbock Psychiatric Center will receive the care they need in a secure, state-of-the art building that helps facilitate their recovery.”

Part of a Statewide Mental Health Investment

The Lubbock project is just one piece of a broader strategy by the state to overhaul and expand Texas’ mental health infrastructure. Since 2017, the Governor and state lawmakers have approved more than $2.5 billion to replace, renovate, or expand state hospitals statewide.

Hospital construction is already underway in Amarillo, Dallas, Wichita Falls, and Terrell, while other major expansion and renovation projects are in the planning stage. In 2024, Texas opened replacement hospitals in Austin and San Antonio, each designed to deliver modern care in safer, more comfortable environments.

With the Lubbock facility, the state aims to reduce overcrowding at existing hospitals, cut down on patient waitlists, and improve outcomes for individuals facing severe mental health challenges.

Regional Impact

Once operational, the new hospital will not only deliver critical care but will also create local jobs and support economic growth in the Lubbock area. Mental health advocates say the investment shows Texas’ growing commitment to addressing mental health needs that have historically been underserved, especially in rural communities.

Texans seeking more information about the Lubbock Psychiatric Center or other mental health construction projects can visit the Texas HHSC Changes to State Hospitals webpage.

Renderings and additional details about the facility are available here.

Originally reported by KCBD Staff in KCBD.