Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria has received a $2,725,000 building donation from The Sierra Land Group.
Hospital officials say the donation will allow them to establish a Crisis Stabilization Unit to help treat people with mental health issues.
Just last month, the hospital put out a call for help to expand Behavioral Health Services in Santa Maria.
Santa Barbara County has just 16 adult inpatient mental health beds and zero inpatient beds for adolescents. The creation of a Crisis Stabilization Unit at the hospital would help prevent some patients from needing to go outside of the area for treatment.
Dr. David Ketelaar, a physician at Marian Regional Medical Center who has been pushing for Behavioral Health Services, said in a statement released Wednesday, "As a physician who sees firsthand such a critical need for a designated behavioral health unit to serve our community, I am so appreciative of this very generous donation. Individuals with behavioral health issues deserve to get the best care close to their homes and families, and this contribution will do just that."
