COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (KMTV) — Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital is partnering with Acadia Healthcare to build a 96-bed behavioral health center in Council Bluffs, with city and health care officials breaking ground on the project Tuesday.
“We're seeing an increase in the number of people seeking treatment, and we're realizing how under-resourced we are,” said Dr. Pirzada Sattar, medical director of behavioral health at Jenny Edmundson. “Across the country, it's common for people to wait two, three, four, six months before they can see a therapist, a prescriber or a nurse practitioner who can help them manage their mental illness or substance use disorder,” Woods said. The center will provide inpatient and outpatient treatment for mental illness and substance use disorder.
Broadcast transcript:
Neighbors whose loved ones have experienced mental health emergencies know how hard it can be to even find a hospital bed when you need one.
I'm Katrina Markel, a regional reporter in southwest Iowa.
I'm in Council Bluffs, at the proposed site of a new mental health facility that aims to alleviate some of that problem.
Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital and national behavioral health company Acadia Healthcare broke ground Tuesday on a new mental health center in Council Bluffs.
“As the number of people seeking treatment increases, we are realizing how few resources we have,” said Dr. Pirzada Sattar, medical director for behavioral health at Jenny Edmundson.
Demand for mental health care has increased during the pandemic, especially among young people, he says.
“Many of our young people are waiting for beds in emergency rooms, and since COVID-19, the number of people seeking help has doubled,” he said.
Inpatient capacity is limited in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area, with Methodist Hospital citing data from Iowa and Nebraska showing a shortage of 300 beds.
Sutter told me on Tuesday that Jenny Edmundson's 24 beds were full, with 12 more patients on the waiting list, some of whom may have to travel to hospitals elsewhere in the state to get treatment.
“That's why it's so important for our community to have this resource close by,” he said.
Jeffrey Woods, a doctor of nursing practice at Acadia Healthcare, said it's part of a national trend that includes access to outpatient services.
“Across the country, we're seeing routinely people waiting two, three, four, even six months before they can see a therapist, prescriber or nurse to manage their mental health or substance use symptoms,” Woods said.
“When someone is asking for help, emotional help, mental trauma, we need help right now, we need help right now,” Sutter added.
The new behavioral health center will have 96 beds, including 24 beds for children and adolescents. It will also offer outpatient mental health and substance use disorder programs. The center is expected to open in 2026.
