A Major Boost for Kids' Mental Health in Boston

Boston is getting a big new mental health hospital just for kids. The hospital will have 116 beds and is set to open in 2029. It will be on the campus of Franciscan Children's in Brighton, which Boston Children's Hospital bought in 2023. The hospital will treat many different mental health problems. It will also train new psychiatrists and psychologists. This is important because many kids have mental health issues. In fact, one in five kids between the ages of 3 and 17 has been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. The hospital is being built with a huge donation from Robert and Karen Hale. They gave $100 million to help build the $640 million project. The Hales have donated to Boston Children's Hospital before. In 2018, they gave $50 million. The new hospital will have many special features. There will be a day hospital, a short-term residential program, and even outdoor play spaces. The hospital will also have a gym, a therapy pool, and a dental suite. It will be designed to be eco-friendly, with geothermal wells and a rain garden. Dr. Stacy Drury will lead the new hospital. She is the psychiatrist-in-chief at Boston Children's Hospital. She said the Hales' donation will help the hospital provide better care for kids and their families. The hospital will also have places for parents to stay. This way, they can be close to their kids while they are getting treatment. The hospital will be designed to make patients and their families feel welcome and safe.