Dayton Mental Health Hospital Expected to Cost $273M, Take Years to Fund

The $10 million in state funds set aside for a new 216-bed mental health hospital in Dayton that was included in Ohio’s capital budget signed by Gov. Mike DeWine last week is only the first step in a costly, yearslong process.

Indeed, while the current capital budget funding would cover these initial expenditures, funding for architectural design and construction would be a part of future capital budget negotiations.

The total cost of the hospital is estimated at around $273 million, according to initial estimates from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Local officials say the new facility is needed and has been since the former state mental health facility was closed 16 years ago — but the long timeline means other solutions are needed in the meantime.

State officials say a Dayton-area facility is needed to relieve pressure on the Columbus facility and Summit Behavioral Healthcare in Cincinnati.

“As the governor highlighted during the capital budget bill signing, building a statewide system of supports for Ohioans facing mental health remains one of his top priorities.