The Sarasota County Public Hospital Board on Monday approved a $65 million plan to replace its aging behavioral health hospital with a new, state-of-the-art pavilion that centralizes and enhances care to people affected by mental and behavioral health challenges. Slated to begin design this year, preliminary plans call for the new 82-bed, 95,000-square-foot Behavioral Health Pavilion to be built on the northeast corner of the hospital’s main campus, at the corner of Osprey Avenue and Hawthorne Street. “Mental illness affects one in five Americans every year. Many in our community are struggling daily due to conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and PTSD. These are often treatable conditions, and with the right services, most people can recover and lead fulfilling lives,” Cassidy says. “Offering a full spectrum of services in one location allows for coordinated care and better outcomes for all our patients and our community.”