Children's Mercy Kansas City in the US, and KVC Health Systems, have formed a joint venture (JV) to build a new $53m mental health inpatient hospital and address the need for expanded mental health treatment for children and adults.

The mental wellness campus in the greater Kansas City area will feature 72 beds, including 48 paediatric beds and 24 adult beds, along with six private courtyards, dining and activity spaces, and walking paths.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly participated in the facility’s ground-breaking ceremony with federal, state, and local leaders.

Expected to open late next year, the new mental wellness campus will be built in Olathe, Kansas.

The JV received funding from the Sunderland Foundation and the State of Kansas SPARK Committee.

The new hospital will be operated by KVC's subsidiary Camber Mental Health.

KVC Health Systems president and CEO Jason Hooper said: “We feel a sense of urgency to partner in new, transformative ways to expand help for children and adults experiencing acute mental health crises.

“It’s been absolutely inspiring to see so many steps forward, including Children’s Mercy as our JV collaborator and the Sunderland Foundation and the State of Kansas as lead supporters.

“Mental health deserves our urgent action, and we want the community to know that there is hope and help for anyone who is hurting.”

The design prioritises patient and staff safety, supportive care, patient wellness, and connection with nature.

The project is expected to create approximately 150 new jobs and serve over 3,400 patients annually.

Children’s Mercy president and CEO Paul Kempinski said: “This new hospital will take a significant strain off area emergency departments that are not well-suited to facilitate care for patients in mental health crisis by increasing access to acute inpatient care designed specifically for their needs.”