The intent of a new 24-bed psychiatric facility in Concord is to provide a safe and secure environment for patients – individuals who are currently or would potentially be residing in the secure psychiatric unit of the men’s prison.

“Although the SPU has done a great job over the years it’s not really the environment necessary to be able to provide the most therapeutic experience for those individuals,” said Ellen LaPointe, CEO of New Hampshire Hospital.

This hospital will serve patients whose mental illnesses prevent them from standing trial for their crimes. Moreover, it will offer care for individuals who have not broken any laws but pose significant risks that cannot be appropriately addressed in a standard treatment setting such as the state hospital.

For the construction of the psychiatric facility, the state received two bids as part of the selection process for a contractor. PC Construction of Vermont was chosen for the facility’s construction with a bid of $41.9 million.

The other bidder was Engelberth Construction of Concord, which bid $44.2 million.

The state is holding its next information session on the construction of the forensic psychiatric hospital, which is part of the effort to expand treatment options for people with mental illnesses.

The public will receive updates on the construction timeline and get an opportunity to submit comments and questions during the online information session on Monday hosted by the state Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Administrative Services.

The hospital will be built adjacent to the existing New Hampshire Hospital, an acute psychiatric facility.

It is expected that the construction will last for two years and will be completed at the end of the second quarter of 2025.

While the facility may not directly address the recent federal court ruling against detaining mental health patients in emergency departments, it will contribute additional beds to the state’s mental health system.

As of Thursday, 35 adults were waiting for psychiatric treatment beds and 8 of those adults were in correctional facilities.

“Primarily, the patients that would be receiving care in the forensic hospital are currently in other care venues,” said LaPointe. “So it wouldn’t necessarily open up additional acute mental health beds that are currently difficult to come by.”

Having a forensic hospital in the state would bring respite to individuals with mental illnesses in correctional facilities, but staffing would be a challenge because the state already has numerous vacancies for mental health professionals and corrections officers.

At the state hospital, there are open positions for nurses, mental health workers and social workers. Operational departments at the hospital also have vacancies.

“We are really working towards not only filling the vacancies that we have currently, but how we plan to fill the vacancies for the forensic hospital once the budget is established, so it’s a work in progress,” said LaPointe. “But the department’s definitely invested in having this be successful and ensuring it’s a safe environment before we admit patients.”

If you go

To attend the meeting on Zoom, visit the DHHS website for more information

When: July 31, Monday at 6:00 pm

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