A safe space in a crisis. Inside General Tampa’s new behavioral health hospital

Editor’s Note: This story contains a suicide discussion. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, help is available. You can call or text 988 to connect to the Suicide and Crisis Helpline. At the bottom of this story, additional resources are listed.

TAMPA – A third of Florida adults reported symptoms of anxiety and depression disorder in 2023, according to an analysis of US census data.

Federal data shows that the state’s suicide rate has increased by 6% over the past 20 years, with approximately 112,000 Floridians undergoing involuntary mental health tests after being reported as a danger to themselves or others in 2022.

However, according to a report by the 2022 State of Mental Health in America, Florida ranked 49th in the country for its access to mental health care.

This is the gap last year when state lawmakers secured $300 million over three years, and began paying for psychiatric housing and workforce development programs in four new state-funded behavioral health education programs.

The four first TGH Behavioral Health Hospitals have officially opened in downtown Tampa.

W. Kennedy Boulevard’s new 96-bed hospital treats patients with severe mental health issues, including bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder. It will operate in a partnership with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, which provides psychiatrists, nurses and therapists. LifePoint Behavioral Health, a for-profit company that operates 20 similar hospitals nationwide, oversees the operation of the hospital.

The majority of those treated are probably people who are permitted under the Baker Act, and Florida laws will be used to involuntarily commit people who are deemed dangerous to themselves or others.

“(This) hospital will transform the landscape of Florida’s behavioral health services and ensure that individuals and families receive the support they need for mental health and recovery.”

The hospital is specifically designed for the treatment of mental health issues. In addition to the group therapy room, there are two interior courtyards, one equipped with a basketball hoop, allowing patients to have fresh air and exercise.

There are two beds in each patient room on the second and third floors, so patients are rarely alone.

The equipment in the room is specifically designed to prevent the risk of suicide by strangulation. The door hinges and handles do not have flat edges to allow the seat to be hung. The towel hook is made of rubber and does not support a person’s weight. The window blinds are mounted between two panes of the double-glazed window. There are very few sharp edges.

“If you do this long enough, you learn to plan every situation,” Leonardo said.

New patients are typically expected to go through the evaluation process and their average stay is expected to be around seven days. The hospital will provide personalized 24-hour care, including medication and management of group and individual therapy. Tampa General plans to add treatment options for patients in the coming months.

The hospital also plays a key role in providing practical training to medical students and residents of USF Health’s School of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience. According to a state analysis, Florida needs 587 psychiatrists to meet the needs of treatment.

“This will help bridge the gap between this community and the health workforce of behavior in this state,” Leonardo said.

In addition to providing medical staff, USF will also host the newly established Florida Behavioral Health Workforce Center.

At the hospital’s opening ceremony on Tuesday, Tampa General CEO John Couris said the project has meant a special thing to him since his mother, suffering from mental health issues and ultimately becoming dependent on prescription drugs.

She had not been diagnosed for many years and after the diagnosis she was not treated for the rest of her life, Coolis said. He said the new hospital will be a beacon of hope for patients and their families.

“This building and the programs and services that this building has been designed for the most vulnerable people in our population, not only to treat them, but to build resilience for them,” he said.

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Need help?

If you or someone you know is thinking of a suicide or a mental health crisis, please either reach 988 Suide & Crisis Lifeline online at 988Lifeline.org or call or text 988 to reach 988 Suide & Crisis Lifeline. The service includes specific help for veterans. You can also dial 211 to reach the area’s nonprofit organizations for information and referrals about human service organizations.