ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to celebrate the upcoming opening of a 144-bed facility.

The event marks a historic milestone in expanding access to high-quality, compassionate behavioral health services in eastern North Carolina, ECU Health said.

Located at 2820 MacGregor Downs Road in Greenville, less than a mile from ECU Health Medical Center, the new hospital represents a major investment in behavioral health infrastructure for the region. 

The hospital will offer comprehensive inpatient and intensive outpatient programs for adults, seniors, children, and adolescents facing acute mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and co-occurring substance use disorders. 

The hospital was built through a joint venture partnership between ECU Health and Acadia Healthcare. It is set to open its doors to patients starting in September and will build up capacity over the ensuing months.

“This ribbon-cutting symbolizes much more than the opening of a hospital — it’s a continuation of ECU Health’s commitment to meeting the most pressing needs of our communities,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, chief executive officer of ECU Health and dean of the Brody School of Medicine. “By partnering with Acadia Healthcare and offering specialized, patient-centered behavioral health care that will also serve as a training ground for future clinicians, this hospital will support patients throughout eastern North Carolina and directly advances our mission to improve the health and well-being of the region.”

The hospital will also serve as a training site for students and residents through partnerships with ECU’s Brody School of Medicine. This academic integration will help address the shortage of behavioral health professionals in the region.

“This partnership between Acadia Healthcare and ECU Health is built on shared values and a shared vision: to expand access to world-class behavioral health services close to home,” said Chris Hunter, chief executive officer of Acadia Healthcare. “We are proud to stand beside ECU Health in this important work and look forward to the positive impact this hospital will have on the lives of patients and families in this region.”

“Our goal is to provide comprehensive care that reflects the needs of each community we serve,” said Tyler Davis, chief executive officer of ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital. “This new hospital is a vital step forward in that mission. By bringing care, education, and innovation together under one roof, we are creating a model that other regions can look to for inspiration.”

Thomas Construction Group led the construction of the hospital with architectural design by Stengel Hill Architecture.