Kansas Breaks Ground on First State Psychiatric Hospital in South Central Region
- Planeta Venus
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Wichita Kansas | May 7, 2025
By Ahida Velasco | Planeta Venus
With a formal groundbreaking ceremony led by state and local officials, on Wednesday, April 9, Kansas officially began the construction of the South Central Regional Psychiatric Hospital—the first state-run mental health facility in the south central region of the state. The new hospital, located in Wichita, aims to expand access to psychiatric care for adults with mental illness, particularly those in crisis or involved in the criminal justice system.
The project is being led by Scott Brunner, Deputy Secretary for Hospitals and Facilities at the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), who has overseen the planning, design, and future operation of the hospital. Brunner first unveiled details of the ambitious initiative in November 2023.
A Strategic Collaboration
The facility will be built by Sedgwick County and operated by the state of Kansas. The partnership is designed to address the growing demand for mental health services in the region. In 2022, 12% of patients treated at the state psychiatric hospitals in Larned and Osawatomie were from Sedgwick County—underscoring the need for closer, more accessible care.
KDADS officially announced the hospital’s location on Jan. 26, 2023. It will be built near McArthur and Meridian streets in Wichita, a site selected for its strategic accessibility to the region.
Capacity and Long-Term Vision
Initial plans call for a 50-bed capacity for adult patients, with the potential to expand to 100 beds based on future needs. The hospital’s focus is to deliver specialized and timely care, particularly for individuals in psychiatric crisis or those interacting with the judicial system who require mental health intervention.
During the groundbreaking event, state leaders, county commissioners, and other elected officials emphasized the project’s importance as a critical step toward strengthening Kansas’ mental health care infrastructure.