San Diego County has unveiled a significant proposal to establish a comprehensive mental health campus, with an estimated cost of $210 million. This initiative aims to provide a continuum of care for mental health issues, addressing early symptoms before they escalate into crises. The proposal, recently approved by the county board of supervisors, seeks a $100 million grant from the state under Proposition 1 to support the development of the campus on Rosecrans Street, adjacent to the San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital.
The new facility is designed to accommodate up to 20,000 individuals annually, replacing an outdated health services complex that has been vacant since various health functions relocated to the county operations center in Kearny Mesa. San Diego County has faced challenges in meeting the rising demand for mental health services, often resulting in patients being held for extended periods in emergency departments due to a lack of available beds in locked hospital units.
Transforming Mental Health Care Delivery
Currently, initial investments have focused on immediate crises, such as opening new stabilization centers and deploying specialized response teams. However, experts emphasize the need for a more holistic approach that allows for consistent access to services, rather than reacting only when crises occur. The recently detailed proposal outlines an increased budget from $150 million to $210 million, incorporating the estimated $27 million value of the county-owned land.
The proposed mental health wellness campus will encompass various facilities, including a crisis stabilization unit, a mental health rehabilitation center, a social rehabilitation facility, an adult residential substance use disorder treatment facility, and an outpatient community mental health clinic. If the grant is awarded, this campus would be the first of its kind in San Diego County, combining multiple types of mental health care under one roof.
Karen Larsen, executive director of the Steinberg Institute, a nonprofit focused on mental health reform, noted that there are only two similar facilities in California located in Riverside and Orange County. “It’s very in line with what the state intended with this funding,” Larsen remarked. “They were very clear that they will be favoring these kinds of campus models where you have sort of a one-stop shop for people with both mental health and substance use disorders.”
The design of the campus aims to facilitate seamless transitions between different types of care, which is essential for individuals experiencing varying degrees of mental health challenges, from moderate anxiety to suicidal ideation. Crisis centers are intended to be the first point of contact, allowing individuals to relax in comfortable settings for up to 24 hours while clinicians assess their needs, determining if further inpatient treatment or outpatient support is required.
A Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health
The campus will also feature a mental health rehabilitation center that offers long-term residential treatment, including group and family therapy, medication management, and tailored care plans. For those who do not require inpatient care but still need ongoing support, a social rehabilitation facility staffed by peers with lived experience will be available around the clock. Clinical staff will provide short-term, voluntary support in this setting.
Additionally, the proposed substance use disorder treatment facility will provide medically-monitored inpatient services adhering to protocols set by the American Society for Addiction Medicine. This facility aims to offer a level of care currently unavailable in other local programs, with a focus on withdrawal management and relapse prevention.
An outpatient mental health clinic is also part of the plan, providing both walk-in and appointment-based services, including mental health screenings and various types of therapy. This structure aligns with the county’s established “optimal care pathways” plan, which emphasizes keeping individuals continuously connected to treatment.
County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer has been a strong advocate for this holistic approach to mental health care. “The kind of framework where you get substance abuse treatment in one location and mental health treatment somewhere else, we know, makes no sense,” Lawson-Remer stated. “These are so often co-occurring conditions, and I believe that this wellness campus will allow us to engage in both.”
The county faces stiff competition for funding, as it seeks to secure a grant from the second round of Proposition 1, which will allocate over $800 million for unmet needs in mental health and substance use services. Although the $100 million grant would not fully cover the campus’s costs, successful funding would enable the county to develop a financing plan in collaboration with private partners to identify additional resources.
When asked if the county would still pursue the campus if the grant application is unsuccessful, Lawson-Remer emphasized the importance of the project, noting, “I would never say that something like this would be at the end of its possibilities because one door closed.”
In addition to this initiative, Palomar Health in North County is also seeking funding, with plans to apply for a $50 million grant for a 120-bed behavioral health specialty hospital on the campus of Palomar Medical Center Escondido. The pursuit of these grants reflects the urgent need for expanded mental health services across the region.
