Patients admitted to WellSpan York Hospital’s expanded behavioral health unit will experience a new level of care beginning Dec. 17 - one that is not only personalized but also thoughtfully designed to promote recovery in a welcoming and supportive environment. 

The completion of the first phase of the expanded unit is the latest example of WellSpan’s commitment to expanding access to high-quality care, an important component of WellSpan York Hospital’s ongoing campus expansion project. The new unit consists of both private and semi-private rooms that will help address capacity constraints.

The unit’s design focuses on improving patient and staff safety, enhancing patient care progression and creating an improved healing environment with strategically placed natural and artificial light sources for increased comfort. In addition, all patient care areas on the unit will have dedicated quiet spaces, as well as private group therapy spaces. 

An impressive $2.4 million donation from philanthropic community leaders John and Maria Polli supported the new construction to develop an environment within the behavioral health unit that best meets the growing needs of the communities the hospital serves. This contribution is the largest individual donation to support behavioral health in WellSpan’s history. 

“The hospital’s new behavioral health unit is a very important component of the ongoing comprehensive WellSpan York Hospital expansion project,” said Victoria Diamond, senior vice president of WellSpan’s Central Region. “The extraordinary generosity of the Polli family will have a lasting impact, improving the lives of so many individuals and families who come to the hospital seeking hope and healing. How we care for behavioral health patients has continued to evolve and this gift helped us reimagine how we can provide such a highly personalized and healing environment for these patients.”

The completion of the unit’s initial phase comes at a time of tremendous community need for access to more inpatient behavioral health care. Research shows a rising demand for behavioral health and substance use services. Amplified by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand often outpaces the available supply of behavioral health providers and inpatient care areas. 

The hospital’s inpatient unit treats persons who are experiencing significant mental health problems and have difficulty functioning in their homes or communities. They may also be at elevated risk of harming themselves and/or others. They may struggle to maintain their usual routines or meet expectations due to depression, anxiety, or other mental health problems.

When the project is complete in fall 2025, the behavioral health unit will serve the needs of a diverse patient population and include 56 patient beds and encompass nearly 30,000 square feet.

To learn more about WellSpan’s behavioral health services, visit WellSpan.org/BehavioralHealth.