Sussex psych hospital to bring 133 jobs, crisis care in 2018

A new, standalone psychiatric hospital, fast-tracked by state lawmakers, is on target to bring 133 jobs and crisis care to Sussex County in 2018.

The 90-bed, 93,000-square foot psychiatric hospital and treatment center, which had a groundbreaking event on Wednesday, will sprawl over six acres of land in Georgetown across from Delaware Technical Community College.

Run by New Jersey-based SUN Behavioral Health, company officials estimate it will take 18 months to build and be open for patients by May 2018.

In addition to outpatient space and inpatient beds, the center, which increased in cost from $18 million to $25 million to accommodate for more space and extra expenses, will include an outdoor courtyard, indoor recreation center and expanded waiting areas for patients and their families.

It will be bolstered by a state grant of $708,367 to support 133 full-time jobs.

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The hospital faced trouble early on. Competitor Universal Health Services, a company that oversees Rockford Center in Stanton and Dover Behavioral Health in Kent County, sought to fight the project in court, alleging that it was not properly approved for construction in the first place and proposed too many beds.

State lawmakers proposed a bill which looked to override any legal battle and pave the way for the hospital's construction. It passed the state Senate and House of Representatives easily, and Gov. Jack Markell signed the bill into law to solidify its creation.

Mental health advocates and state officials say the facility will fill a much-needed gap in Sussex County, where 32,249 adults were diagnosed with a depression disorder in 2014.

The patients are there, but there are few specialists to handle the growing concerns.

A 2013 health needs assessment done by Lewes' Beebe Healthcare of several Sussex County towns reported that "there is a lack of providers and a lack of providers who will see patients with no insurance coverage."

SUN Behavioral Health will also have inpatient beds for those with mental health and addiction treatment needs, as well as intensive outpatient treatment in the community.

Jen Rini can be reached at (302) 324-2386 or jrini@delawareonline.com. Follow @JenRini on Twitter.