Named Agave Ridge Behavioral Hospital, the new hospital addresses the growing need in Arizona for more accessible, high-quality behavioral health care services. It will offer a full continuum of inpatient behavioral health care services for adult, older adult, and pediatric patients including comprehensive treatment for those who struggle with acute symptoms of behavioral health disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“Beyond putting a shovel into the ground, we are symbolically addressing a very serious health issue that affects our community,” said Jeff Hansen, Chief Executive Officer of AP. “At AP, we build trust, communities, and places where people can heal, and Agave Ridge Behavioral Hospital will deliver upon that promise once it’s completed. We are very grateful for our partnership with Acadia and the trust they’ve placed in our team to help fulfill their mission.”
The groundbreaking was attended by City of Mesa Mayor John Giles. Attendees saw the site of the new hospital and an architectural rendering of the facility. Event speakers discussed its anticipated impact on the community’s need for additional mental health services.
According to data compiled from the Treatment Advocacy Center, U.S. Census Bureau, and American Hospital Directory, Maricopa County has a deficit of 893 behavioral health beds in the county. The county should have 2,331 beds to meet its behavioral health care needs but presently only has 1,492 beds available. Furthermore, the National Institutes of Health has reported that one in every five people have a mental health need. In Arizona, this represents over one million residents ages 12 and up. Additionally, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention identified suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among Arizonians ages 10–34.
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“The death of mental health resources is a national problem that we also face in Arizona,” said Dr. Jeffrey Woods, Operations Group President of Acadia Healthcare. “We are very pleased to announce that construction is underway for Agave Ridge Behavioral. It will be state-of-the-art and provide the hope and healing that residents of Mesa and the surrounding communities need when dealing with complex behavioral health issues. We want to thank local officials for their collaboration and prompt attention to this project. We will become a strong member of the community, partnering with all organizations, hospitals, and first responders.”
