CAMPUS. KOCO MEGHAN MOSLEY GOT A TOUR OF THAT FACILITY TODAY. YEAH. THIS NEW BUILDING WILL HOLD 32 PATIENTS THAT ARE ALREADY AT GRIFFIN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. THEY’RE HOPING TO MAKE THAT CHANGE WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK. AND STATE LEADERS SAY THIS IS GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER FOR MENTAL HEALTH. WE THINK THIS IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STATE. WE FIRST TOLD YOU IN NOVEMBER, THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES PURCHASED THE SSM HEALTH FACILITY ON SOUTHWEST 89TH AND PENN. TODAY, KOCO GOT A FIRST LOOK AT WHAT OFFICIALS HOPE IS A TURNING POINT. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO START MOVING SOME PEOPLE OUT OF GRIFFIN, WHICH IS A FACILITY THAT’S WAY, WAY PAST ITS PRIME. WHILE THE AGENCY DIDN’T ALLOW CAMERAS INSIDE FOR THE TOUR, THEY PROVIDED THIS VIDEO. YOU SEE HERE THE 32 BED ANNEX INCLUDES UPDATED SECURITY AND TECHNOLOGY AND OUTDOOR COURTYARD AND SHARED LIVING AND DINING AREAS. AND THIS ANNEX IS JUST THE FIRST HALF OF THE PROCESS. THE GOAL IS TO FULLY OPEN THE CAMPUS BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. HOSPITAL OVER HERE IS GOING TO BE A BIT OF A LONGER PROJECT. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT FACILITY. YES, IT IS OLD, OLDER THAN WHAT WE’D LIKE, BUT IT’S STILL, WHEN YOU SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS WE MADE IN HERE, YOU’LL SEE THAT THESE WERE DOLLARS WELL SPENT TO GET US UP TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE. BEING IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA, THEY SAY IT WILL CUT DOWN TRANSPORTATION TIMES AND EVENTUALLY HELP WITH THE BACKLOG OF PATIENTS NEEDING CARE. I THINK IT WILL HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE’VE HAD WITH SOME OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WITH FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE COUNTY JAILS BEING HELD FOR MENTAL INCOMPETENCY AND GETTING THEM RESTORED SO THEY CAN STAND TRIAL, AND WE CAN HURRY UP AND ADJUDICATE THEM AND MOVE ON DOWN THE ROAD. ONE, WE’RE CENTRALLY LOCATED. NOT THAT NORMAN’S A BAD LOCATION, BUT NOW WE ARE CENTRAL OKLAHOMA. WE ARE. WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET RESPONDERS TO BRING INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS HERE. MUCH QUICKER PATIENTS HERE MUCH QUICKER, AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TO GO TO NORMAN. THE PROJECT IS FUNDED THROUGH ARPA DOLLARS, WHICH MUST BE SPENT BY THE END OF THE YEAR. WHEN COMPLETE, THE CAMPUS WILL HOUSE UP TO 195 PATIENTS. OFFICIALS SAY THIS IS A SECURE FACILITY AND N
New mental health facility set to open in south Oklahoma City
A newly renovated mental health facility in south Oklahoma City is set to open within days, with dozens of patients from Griffin Memorial Hospital to a modern campus
Updated: 5:11 PM CST Feb 27, 2026
A new mental health facility in south Oklahoma City is set to open within days, moving dozens of patients from Griffin Memorial Hospital to a newly renovated campus, which state leaders say will be a game-changer for mental health.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter”We think this is a tremendous opportunity for the state,” said Gregory Slavonic, interim commissioner for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.’A turning point in mental health care’The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services purchased the SSM Health facility last November, and officials hope it marks a turning point in mental health care. “This will allow us to start moving some people out of Griffin, which is a facility way past its prime,” said state Rep. Preston Stinson, chair of the Appropriations and Health Budget SubcommitteeWhile cameras were not allowed inside for the tour, the agency provided video footage of the facility. The 32-bed annex includes updated security and technology, an outdoor courtyard, and shared living and dining areas.”The bigger hospital is gonna be a little bit of a longer project,” Stinson said.”We’re gonna have a great facility. Yes, it is old, older than what we’d like, but still, when you see the improvements we’ve made in here, it’s dollars well spent to get us to where we need to be,” Slavonic said.Meant for easy accessBeing centrally located in Oklahoma, the facility is expected to reduce transportation times and help address the backlog of patients needing care. “I think it’ll help alleviate some of the issues we had with some of the mental health creating issues with folks that are in the county jails, being held for mental incompetency, and getting them restored to competency so they can stand trial and we can hurry and adjudicate them and move on down the road,” Stinson said.Slavonic spoke about the benefits of the location.”One, we’re centrally located, not that Norman’s a bad location, but now we are central Oklahoma. We will be able to get responders to bring individuals in crisis much quicker, patients here much quicker, as opposed to having to go to Norman,” Slavonic said.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.The project is funded through ARPA dollars, which must be spent by the end of the year. Once complete, the campus will house up to 195 patients. Officials have stated that this is a secure facility and not open for walk-in care.Top Headlines Pokémon 30th anniversary: When it stopped being just a game DOJ sues Oklahoma over voter registration list, Drummond pledges cooperation Hit-and-run crash causes slowdown on I-40 near Portland in Oklahoma City Are your allergy symptoms out of control? Don’t worry, you’re not alone Piedmont police officer shot at during domestic disturbance
OKLAHOMA CITY —
A new mental health facility in south Oklahoma City is set to open within days, moving dozens of patients from Griffin Memorial Hospital to a newly renovated campus, which state leaders say will be a game-changer for mental health.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter
“We think this is a tremendous opportunity for the state,” said Gregory Slavonic, interim commissioner for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
‘A turning point in mental health care’
The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services purchased the SSM Health facility last November, and officials hope it marks a turning point in mental health care.
“This will allow us to start moving some people out of Griffin, which is a facility way past its prime,” said state Rep. Preston Stinson, chair of the Appropriations and Health Budget Subcommittee
While cameras were not allowed inside for the tour, the agency provided video footage of the facility.
The 32-bed annex includes updated security and technology, an outdoor courtyard, and shared living and dining areas.
“The bigger hospital is gonna be a little bit of a longer project,” Stinson said.
“We’re gonna have a great facility. Yes, it is old, older than what we’d like, but still, when you see the improvements we’ve made in here, it’s dollars well spent to get us to where we need to be,” Slavonic said.
Meant for easy access
Being centrally located in Oklahoma, the facility is expected to reduce transportation times and help address the backlog of patients needing care.
“I think it’ll help alleviate some of the issues we had with some of the mental health creating issues with folks that are in the county jails, being held for mental incompetency, and getting them restored to competency so they can stand trial and we can hurry and adjudicate them and move on down the road,” Stinson said.
Slavonic spoke about the benefits of the location.
“One, we’re centrally located, not that Norman’s a bad location, but now we are central Oklahoma. We will be able to get responders to bring individuals in crisis much quicker, patients here much quicker, as opposed to having to go to Norman,” Slavonic said.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
The project is funded through ARPA dollars, which must be spent by the end of the year. Once complete, the campus will house up to 195 patients.
Officials have stated that this is a secure facility and not open for walk-in care.
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