BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana’s State Hospital in Warm Springs is facing overcrowding issues, prompting state legislators to consider building a new facility, and among the five proposed sites is Billings, the state’s largest city.
The potential location for this psychiatric hospital is between Alkali Drive and High Sierra Boulevard on Skyway Drive in Billings.
After speaking with local residents and city leaders, opinions on the proposal appear mixed.
“I don’t understand why you wouldn’t help people that need it. Billings needs one that would service all of eastern Montana. Nothing but positive,” John Moberly, a resident near Skyway Drive, expressed his support.
However, Councilwoman Jennifer Owen from Ward 2 shared a different perspective.
“The general feedback that I’ve gotten from my constituents is a very strong no,” Owen said.
Owen acknowledged the potential benefits of addressing overcrowding at the state mental hospital but noted there are many unknowns.
“There are, at this point, more questions than answers,” she added.
Terri Todd, a behavioral health advocate and chair of the Local Advisory Committee for Behavioral Health, emphasized the importance of the facility serving more than just criminal evaluations.
“We want to make sure that we have discharge plans… unlike what we’re dealing with in Warm Springs now,” Todd stated.
Todd mentioned that in a meeting with 19 other public health providers, there was unanimous agreement on the need for a mental hospital on this side of the state. She highlighted the case of a man who spent over a year in detention on a misdemeanor, who needed mental health treatment but ended up homeless.
“The system didn’t work,” Todd said.
Both Owen and Todd are hopeful for more discussions with the state to develop a clearer plan. The Department of Public Health and Human Services, which is organizing the project, has yet to respond to requests for more information.
For more information on the state initiative you can visit here.