The 89th Texas Legislature could debate building Brazoria County’s first psychiatric hospital during its 2025 session.
How we got here
On Oct. 29, the Pearland City Council unanimously voted to sign a letter of support asking the state Legislature to allocate funds to build Brazoria County’s first mental health hospital.
Pearland Chamber of Commerce President Jim Johnson asked the Pearland City Council to sign a letter of support for the construction of a 115-bed mental health facility that would cost an estimated $115 million, according to city documents.
According to the letter, there are currently no dedicated psychiatric inpatient beds in Brazoria County, forcing residents to seek treatment outside the county or go without treatment.
To date, Alvin ISD, Pearland ISD, Alvin Community College, Memorial Hermann and HCA Houston Healthcare have already signed the letter, Johnson said.
inside story
Through Pearland Day in Austin, a stakeholder event that includes the City of Pearland and Pearland ISD, the Chamber will discuss the possibility of building a mental health hospital in Brazoria County ahead of the 88th Texas State Legislature in 2023 A delegation was dispatched to the Texas State Capitol. said Alexander Okwona, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors.
The delegation was asked to return with data, prompting the Pearland Chamber of Commerce to conduct a 19-month study on mental health in the county.
One of the highlights of the study is that demand for psychiatric services from county residents is expected to increase by 50% over the next 10 years.
in their own words
“I am a senior advisor to high school seniors, and as I speak to them this year, I am constantly reminded of how vulnerable we are and how much we need something like this,” City Council said Councilwoman Raini Cade.
Mayor Kevin Cole said law enforcement and public safety personnel could attest to the urgency of the mental health crisis in the county.
“I’ve served in many different roles in the community and I’ve seen things like this a lot,” said City Councilman Clint Byron. “It would be disrespectful to say this is not one of the biggest challenges for our community.”
