New Mental Wellness Campus in Kansas City Arrives at a Crucial Moment
By Fay Harvey
OLATHE, Kan. — In December 2024, the new $53 million mental wellness campus in officially opened its doors. The joint venture between Children’s Mercy Kansas City and the Kansas City, Kan., hospital Camber Mental Health launched plans for the new 72,700 square-foot facility in response to the growing demand for inpatient mental health treatment for both pediatric and adult patients. The hospital delivers treatment through compassionate, trauma-focused behavioral healthcare services.
“This new hospital is going to transform people’s lives, and for many people, it will be lifesaving,” said Kimberly O’Connor-Soule president of Children’s Mercy and Camber Mental Health in a statement. “Children and adults experiencing a deeply vulnerable and difficult time in their life will receive treatment in a safe, therapeutic, and uplifting environment that is free of judgment and focused on a whole-person approach to care to restore hope and celebrate each step forward.”
The world-class Children’s Mercy + Camber Mental Health Mental Wellness Campus was built by Kansas City, Mo.- based JE Dunn, while design firm Hoefer Welker, also headquartered in Kansas City, managed architecture and interior design. The hospital includes 72 beds, with 48 pediatric beds reserved for patients ages six to 18, and 24 adult beds for patients 18 years and older in fully separate units.
The environment was intended to make clients feel safe and supported through the introduction of bright, open, calming treatment spaces. Patients and guests can enjoy six interior and exterior courtyards alongside large dayrooms, dining spaces and activity areas. Full medical, clinical and nursing assessment areas were integrated into the facility, and the overall design was created with healing in mind.
“The opening of this new facility marks a huge leap forward in mental health care for both adolescents and adults in the Kansas City area and beyond,” JE Dunn Vice President Mike Comer said in a statement. “It’s rewarding to see the culmination of everyone’s hard work, knowing it will make such a difference for so many people.”
From 2019-2021, the National Institutes of Health reported a rise in ER visits for adults facing suicidality, substance abuse and mental health crises. And in 2023 alone, 4,000 children and teens visited the Children’s Mercy Emergency Room for behavioral health needs, with 20% hospitalized for inpatient medical treatment — an already scarce service in the area. This upward trend in mental health needs will be addressed in the new state-of-the-art space, which is expected to serve roughly 3,400 people a year.
A child’s average stay in the facility is five to seven days while an adult’s is eight to 12 days. Hospital staff promptly and safely stabilize patient mental health crises, providing follow up education on neuroscience, emotional regulation strategies and coping skills. Patients experiencing depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts or the effects of trauma are also provided with opportunities to engage in recreational, artistic, musical and biophilic therapies throughout the facility. Once released, staff members offer support and resources necessary for a successful outpatient treatment experience.
The facility — which was made possible by contributions from the Sunderland Foundation, the State of Kansas, Fore the Kids Foundation and the Kao Family Foundation — has also greatly stimulated the local economy by bringing 150 new healthcare jobs to the area.
“This collaboration underscores our collective dedication to expanding capacity and delivering essential mental health resources to the youth in our region,” said Paul Kempinski, MS, FACHE, president and CEO of Children’s Mercy in a statement. “Many children have endured extended wait times in the emergency department due to a lack of available beds in the community and we are optimistic that this new campus will significantly reduce the time children spend in crisis waiting for the appropriate care that is needed.”