Central Oregon is building its first youth psychiatric facility after the Legislature approved $3.1 million for a 15-bed facility in Redmond, targeted for fall 2026. There are currently zero psychiatric beds for youth east of the Cascades.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Oregon youth ages 10-24. Over 100 children were boarded in ERs for 24+ hours last year, per The Bulletin. An OHSU study confirmed one in eight youth are held three or more days.

If successful, Redmond becomes a template for other underserved regions — southern Oregon, the coast, and the Columbia Basin. Finding qualified clinicians in a market with severe behavioral health workforce shortages will be the critical challenge.

Watch for: Whether the fall 2026 opening holds. The Behavioral Health Talent Council report flagged rural recruitment as the top priority. If Redmond succeeds, expect legislative pressure in 2027 for similar facilities in Klamath Falls, Roseburg, and the coast.