Use of State Psychiatric Hospitals, 2025

Since the 1800s, every state government has operated a psychiatric hospital with inpatient beds for individuals who require intensive treatment in an inpatient setting. Since the 1950s, when state hospital populations peaked at over 550,000 residents, states have been downsizing by closing beds or shuttering entire hospitals and shifting care of individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) to community-based services.

In 2025, for the first time since the 1950s, more states are increasing their state psychiatric hospital capacity by reopening beds in existing state hospitals or even building new state psychiatric hospitals to care for individuals needing the most intensive psychiatric care.

Profiles reports are available at: www.nri-inc.org/profiles. State Mental Health Agency staff have access to detailed accompanying materials through the NRI’s State Profiles restricted access website. Please contact NRI at [email protected] with any questions or comments.