A state push to expand and modernize mental health care is bringing new investment to Ontario County, with Clifton Springs Hospital set to receive funding to upgrade its inpatient psychiatric facilities.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $13.7 million in capital funding Thursday to support 13 projects statewide aimed at increasing psychiatric bed capacity and improving conditions at existing units. Among them is a $616,200 award for Clifton Springs Hospital to update infrastructure, including windows and flooring.
The investment is part of a broader effort to strengthen inpatient mental health services across New York, particularly at community-based hospitals that serve as a front line for patients in crisis.
State officials said the funding, administered through the Office of Mental Health, will support a mix of expansion projects and facility upgrades. While several projects will add new beds, others — including the work planned in Clifton Springs — are focused on improving the environment and overall patient experience.
In total, four projects were funded in the Finger Lakes region. In addition to Clifton Springs Hospital, Rochester General Hospital will receive more than $547,000 to create a secure outdoor therapeutic space, while the University of Rochester Medical Center secured two awards totaling more than $2.2 million for upgrades and a six-bed expansion.
Across the state, the funding will support 13 projects involving nine providers. Larger-scale expansions include a new 24-bed adolescent psychiatric unit in Queens and smaller bed increases in Suffolk and Monroe counties.
Officials say modernizing inpatient psychiatric facilities is critical to improving outcomes, with upgrades often focused on safety features, therapeutic spaces and access to outdoor areas — elements increasingly seen as essential in mental health treatment.
The latest round of funding builds on a broader statewide initiative to increase access to care. Under Hochul’s administration, New York has added 1,000 psychiatric beds, with additional projects underway to expand services for individuals experiencing severe mental illness, including those involved in the justice system.
State leaders say continued investment in both capacity and facility conditions is necessary to address rising demand for mental health services and ensure patients receive timely, effective care.
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