New Hampshire's first forensic psychiatric hospital on track to open in 2026

Construction of New Hampshire's first forensic psychiatric hospital is progressing steadily, with the state targeting an operational start by late 2026. This 24-bed hospital, located next to the existing New Hampshire Hospital, an inpatient psychiatric facility on Clinton Street in Concord, is poised to fill a critical gap in the state's mental healthcare system by providing specialized care for some of its most vulnerable residents, officials say. The new facility will cater to three key groups — defendants in the criminal justice system who suffer from severe mental illness, those deemed unfit to stand trial due to mental health challenges, and individuals civilly committed to treatment, all requiring heightened safety protocols. Ellen LaPointe, CEO of New Hampshire Hospital, explained that when these patients are admitted to New Hampshire Hospital and when they become a significant danger to themselves or others, despite multiple interventions to ensure their safety, they may require a more secure environment. In such cases, they are transferred to the Secure Psychiatric Unit located on the grounds of the State Prison for men. "In this new building, we are planning to have more security staff, and the design of the unit really is different," said LaPointe. "It is more secure than our current rooms and units so that the population can still remain safe and in a hospital-based setting, as opposed to a correctional setting." LaPointe said that 22 patients from New Hampshire Hospital have recently been transferred to the Secure Psychiatric Unit. PC Construction of Vermont was awarded a $41.9 million contract to build the new facility. Construction began in June 2023 and is expected to finish by June 2026. If the state determines the need exists, the design can accommodate an increase to approximately 60 beds. As construction continues, the state is also focusing on operational planning, particularly staffing for the forensic hospital. In New Hampshire, staffing in the mental health care sector remains a challenge. Although New Hampshire Hospital has successfully hired mental health workers in recent months, they are still actively recruiting nurses and other mental health professionals. "Staffing is a challenge, and we know that we're really going to need to focus on how we recruit and how we continue to meet," said LaPointe. In designing a forensic hospital that meets New Hampshire's needs, hospital staff toured various facilities across the country, including Rochester State Hospital in New York, Hawaii State Hospital, and the Nixon Forensic Center in Fulton, Mo., to study security measures and operational strategies. Despite the new facility's specialized nature, many of its systems will focus on collaborating with community mental health centers and other organizations. The hospital plans to work closely with these entities to ensure that patients who meet the criteria for the forensic unit can be admitted promptly, with some procedural adjustments to accommodate the new setting. "We really are thinking about this as an addition to New Hampshire Hospital, as opposed to an independent operation," said LaPointe.