During his State of the State speech, Ohio Governor John Kasich announced plans to rebuild central Ohio’s mental health hospital with capital improvement dollars. The new 112 million dollar facility will replace the Twin Valley Behavioral Health Hospital in Columbus, which was built in 1977. Local mental health advocates support revamping the hospital and providing more beds for patients. Tracy Plouck speaks for the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
Construction is slated to begin within the next year, and will open by 2022. But National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ohio spokesperson Terry Russell says the most important next step is providing support to patients once they’re released.
Kasich also plans to spend 20 million dollars to help improve youth mental health.