Rock Springs Hospital to expand services

Georgetown behavioral health service provider Rock Springs Hospital broke ground September 21 for an inpatient adolescent unit. Rock Springs, located at 700 Southeast Inner Loop, has a 12-bed adolescent unit, with 60 additional beds serving adults. These include adults in its Help for Heroes program.

The new unit will bring the hospital’s capacity to 96 beds treating mental health and addiction. It will open next year.

The expansion doubles access for adolescents. The number of beds for active military, veterans, first responders and the Women’s Trauma program will increase as well. “We know that the number of adolescents dying by suicide in Texas exceeds the national average,” Rock Spring CEO Erin Basalay said.

“We opened our initial 12-bed adolescent unit just over a year ago and we’ve already seen the difference it has made in the lives of families across our community. We are looking forward to soon having the ability to care for even more teenagers in need.”

Ms. Basalay said there is a great need for adolescent mental health care following the Covid pandemic. Texas ranks last for youth with depressive disorders who do not receive mental health services, according to Mental Health America.

“Many times, parents do not know the signs of mental health conditions or addiction, yet most of these conditions begin in childhood,” she said.

“According to the CDC, one in five teenagers lives with a mental health condition. By going without counseling, medication and other helpful tools for treating common disorders such as anxiety and depression, children are more likely to experience long-reaching issues.”

Rock Springs’ Changes outpatient center opened in 2019 in Cedar Park. It provides mental health and substance abuse treatment — including partial hospitalization and outpatient programs — for people aged 8 to 17.

Parents and potential patients can contact the hospital at 512-819-9400 to speak with a licensed professional and to schedule an assessment. More information is available at www.rockspringshealth.com.