UNC Health Pardee plans to establish a 33-bed inpatient adolescent behavioral health facility in Hendersonville. The project will require renovating 40,000 square feet of hospital space and is expected to open in January 2026.

The new facility is made possible through a partnership with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Vaya Health, and the UNC School of Medicine. 

“This will bring critical services to children and youth in western North Carolina where Hurricane Helene exacerbated the growing need for mental health care,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley. “Together with UNC Health, we are able to move faster to stand up services urgently needed so children can get the care that is right for them in the most appropriate setting.”

Children and adolescents grappling with mental health conditions often face long wait times for admission to specialized facilities, exacerbating their symptoms and impeding their recovery process. Community health assessment data showed a 25% increase in mental health-related emergency room visits in western North Carolina during the past five years. 

NCDHHS is committed to supporting individuals and families impacted by Hurricane Helene and continues to work with local partners to help communities heal, recover, and rebuild. To read the full article, visit the Transylvania Times website.