New Bedford Community Health opens dedicated behavioral health facility

New Bedford Community Health has opened New Bedford Community Health and Wellness, a new behavioral health center in the former Bamboo Garden property in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The project expands access to mental health services for Greater New Bedford and adds dedicated space for NBCH’s behavioral health team.

Why it matters: - The new facility gives New Bedford Community Health a dedicated home for behavioral health and mental health care in a city where access to those services is a growing need. - The project converts a long-closed neighborhood property into a care site focused on wellness, healing and connection. - The opening adds space for NBCH to expand community-based care for patients and families in Greater New Bedford.

What happened: - New Bedford Community Health held a ribbon cutting and grand opening for New Bedford Community Health and Wellness on Wednesday, Aug. 26. - The event took place in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in partnership with the One SouthCoast Chamber. - The facility is the new home of NBCH’s Behavioral Health Department. - NBCH bought the former Bamboo Garden restaurant property in November 2023 after the Chinese restaurant had been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The details: - The new site is designed to serve patients seeking support for depression, stress, grief, chronic pain and other behavioral health concerns. - NBCH said the facility was built to create a quiet, comforting setting that helps patients feel welcome and at home. - The project was funded through a major gift from a philanthropic foundation and congressional funding secured through Community Project Funding. - The opening brought together NBCH leadership and staff, community partners, local and federal officials and invited guests. - Attendees included U.S. Rep. William Keating, state Reps. Antonio F.D. Cabral, Christopher Hendricks, Christopher M. Markey and Steven J. Oullette, New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell and city councilors Derek Baptiste and James Roy. - Guests toured the facility after the ceremony and met members of the Behavioral Health team. - More information about services is available on the Behavioral Health service page.

Between the lines: - The building’s reuse gives a familiar New Bedford site a new role in community health care. - The project also signals a broader shift toward integrating behavioral health with primary care and other support services. - Keating framed the project as a needed complement to NBCH’s existing services and a federal investment in holistic health care. - NBCH framed the opening as part of its long-term commitment to whole-person care that addresses physical, behavioral and social factors.

What's next: - The Behavioral Health team will use the new facility to meet growing demand for services. - NBCH will continue pairing behavioral health with its broader network of health and supportive services. - The new site is expected to strengthen NBCH’s ability to serve patients across Greater New Bedford.

The bottom line: - New Bedford Community Health now has a dedicated behavioral health center that expands access, adds space and turns a vacant property into a community asset.