HARRISBURG, Ill. — A major expansion of the SIH Mulberry Center is now underway in Harrisburg, with Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) investing nearly $20 million to transform behavioral health services across the region.

Designed to address a persistent shortage of inpatient mental health care, the modernization project will expand bed capacity, upgrade the facility’s infrastructure, and introduce the region’s first medical-psychiatric unit, specifically for patients navigating both mental and physical health conditions.

“This expansion is about meeting a critical and growing need in our region,” said John Antes, SIH President and CEO. “This project won’t solve the entire gap, but it’s a major step toward delivering the care our communities deserve—compassionate, connected and close to home.”

The project has been over a decade in planning, with more than 200 residents gathering recently to mark the ceremonial launch of construction.

Rodney Smith, Vice President of SIH and administrator of SIH Harrisburg Medical Center, emphasized both the clinical and economic impact: “This project is not only a response to that need, but it also brings meaningful investment into our local economy. We’re grateful to our partners, legislators, architects and—most of all—the community for supporting this vision.”

Expected to carry a $50 million total economic impact, the project stands as a milestone in rural health care.

“This is a proud moment for our city,” said Harrisburg Mayor John McPeek. “The strength of our partnerships made this possible, and we are all better for it.”

State Sen. Dale Fowler called the initiative “SIH’s mission in motion,” while State Rep. Patrick Windhorst hailed it as “a bold investment in restoring health, stability and dignity to our rural communities.”

The office of U.S. Rep. Mike Bost presented SIH with a congressional certificate in recognition of the project, which has been entered into the congressional record.

Construction is scheduled to continue into 2026, supported in part by the “Hope is Home” Capital Campaign, led by the SIH and Harrisburg Medical Center Foundations.

This expansion is not just about beds and walls—it’s about keeping care close to home, especially in rural areas where access to mental health resources has historically lagged.

The new medical-psychiatric unit will bridge a long-standing care gap by providing integrated treatment for dual-diagnosis patients, something previously unavailable in the region.

As Southern Illinois continues to face rising demand for behavioral health services—driven by factors ranging from the pandemic’s lingering effects to economic stressors—SIH’s investment demonstrates how rural health systems can lead with innovation and compassion.

The project also reflects a broader state and national trend: modernizing behavioral health infrastructure in underserved areas. If successful, it could serve as a model for other rural regions looking to build or expand psychiatric care capacity.

With construction underway and fundraising ongoing, SIH is calling on the community to join the effort: every contribution to the “Hope is Home” campaign helps ensure the new Mulberry Center is more than just a building—it’s a lifeline.

Originally reported by Chicago Construction News.