County and state leaders broke ground on a $28.1 million renovation project to convert a wing of the Edgemoor Distinct Part Skilled Nursing Facility into an Acute Psychiatric Unit in Santee. The construction on the 13,500-square-foot wing will add 12 new acute psychiatric beds, with completion scheduled for May 2027.
The Edgemoor acute psychiatric unit is designed to provide short-term intensive psychiatric care for people experiencing serious behavioral health crises on a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week basis. Typical stays last from a few days to one to two weeks. The facility will include a 5,780 square-foot courtyard. According to Nadia Privara Brahms, director of County Behavioral Health Services, access to safe, specialized care can make a critical difference for families and individuals when behavioral symptoms become overwhelming and immediate support is needed.
The renovation is largely funded by the State Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program, which supports counties in constructing new mental health and substance use treatment facilities.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://timesofsandiego.com/health/2026/03/06/county-state-break-ground-on-acute-psychiatric-care-facility-in-santee/