Mental health in our region took a huge step forward with the groundbreaking of the new UW Medicine Behavioral Health Teaching Facility (BHTF) at UW Medical Center–Northwest that will care for patients and train the next generation of behavioral health providers.

Chair Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH, MA, joined UW President Ana Mari Cauce, Governor Jay Inslee, emeritus House Speaker Frank Chopp, ‘Washingtonian of the Day’ Rashi Gupta and others at the podium to mark this important milestone in addressing our state’s behavioral health crisis. The BHTF is slated to open in the fall of 2023 and will offer a one-of-a-kind fully integrated welcoming and healing environment to individuals struggling with serious physical and behavioral health problems. Watch the groundbreaking ceremony which features Dr. Unützer’s remarks at 1:04 and Ryan Kimmel, MD, at 1:10.