AUSTIN — UT Southwestern Medical Center has been chosen to run the first state psychiatric hospital in Dallas.
It’s expected to ease severe shortages in psychiatric beds, shorten waitlists and reduce pressure on emergency rooms and jails across North Texas as the state expands its mental health system.
A closer look at what comes next:
What will the hospital include? The nearly finished facility in the Southwestern Medical District will house 292 inpatient beds, including units for both adults and children.
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When will it open? State and university officials say the hospital is expected to begin admitting patients in summer 2026 after staffing and ramp-up are complete.
What does UT Southwestern say it will bring? UT Southwestern President Dr. Daniel Podolsky said the facility will deliver high-quality psychiatric care and help expand access as part of the state’s broader mental health system.
How does this fit into Texas’ mental health strategy? The Dallas facility is one of several projects launched after lawmakers committed nearly $3 billion in recent years to expand inpatient capacity and mental health care statewide.
What are local lawmakers saying? State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, welcomed the decision, saying UT Southwestern’s role gives the state a strong partner to manage high-quality, innovative care at the new Dallas hospital.