NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) -
Trident Medical Center in North Charleston could be getting a new behavioral health care facility to help care for people with mental illnesses like depression or anxiety.
The new facility would be able to serve more people with quicker wait times.
Officials at Trident Medical Center say with the growing population in the Lowcountry the need for inpatient mental health services has increased.
"Mental illness as most people know is chronic, debilitating. It warrants inpatient services and with the addition of these beds we'll be able to provide those services more promptly," said Mack Shieder who is the nurse manager of Behavior Health Services at Trident Medical Center.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has approved Trident Medical Center’s Certificate of Need application to build a 60-bed behavioral health facility nearby.
The facility will help people dealing with a life crisis, severe depression, bipolar disorder, thoughts of suicide, or other issues people might experience.
"No family, no person is immune to mental illness it could affect us all at anytime," Shieder said.
Trident has outpatient services in addition to a 17-bed inpatient program.
"That includes seeing a psychiatrist each day, 24-hour nursing care, support services, we have music therapy, recreational therapy, activity therapy as well," Shieder said.
The estimated $34.8 million project is pending final approval from DHEC.
Right now it's in a 30-day review period which is a state required approval process.
The new facility is expected to be open in 2020 if final approval is given.
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