We look forward—so when you or someone you love is in crisis, care is close, and hope feels possible.

A new 45-bed behavioral health hospital is now in planning for Palmer, near Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. The project—led by Mat-Su Regional in partnership with the Mat-Su Health Foundation—is built around a simple but urgent reality: too many Alaskans can't get the mental health care they need, when they need it.

The existing psychiatric unit at Mat-Su Regional is often full. That means patients in crisis are regularly transferred to Anchorage or even out of state—putting more strain on families already under stress. In many cases, the emergency room becomes the only source for care in a mental health crisis, even though it's not equipped for long-term support.

This freestanding behavioral health hospital would help change that. With 27 adult beds and 18 for adolescents, it would bring timely, trauma-informed care closer to home—for families who shouldn't have to choose between urgent help and long-distance travel.