SIH breaks ground on Mulberry Center expansion

Under a bright summer sky and in front of more than 200 guests, Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) formally broke ground June 24 on a nearly $20 million expansion and modernization of the SIH Mulberry Center in Harrisburg. The project marks a transformative investment in behavioral health care for the region — one that promises greater access, improved outcomes and more care delivered close to home.

“This is a proud and exciting day for our community,” said Harrisburg Mayor John McPeek during the ceremony. “This project represents progress, healing and compassion. It’s not just an investment in a building — it’s an investment in people.”

The planned expansion will add critical inpatient capacity, including a new medical-psychiatric unit — the first of its kind in Southern Illinois. It also modernizes aging infrastructure and expands access to mental health services for individuals and families who might otherwise go without.

SIH President and CEO John Antes addressed the importance of the project with frank clarity.

“In the U.S., there are about 18 inpatient psychiatric beds for every 100,000 people,” he said. “Experts say we need three times that many. southern Illinois reflects that same shortage.”

But it’s not just about numbers, Antes emphasized. “Mental illness is not something that happens to ‘other people.’ It touches every family, whether we know it or not. This expansion is about making sure our communities, our neighbors and our loved ones have access to care. It's about saying loudly and clearly to every patient who walks through these doors: You matter.”

SIH Vice President and Administrator of SIH Harrisburg Medical Center Rodney Smith has been a driving force behind the project for more than a decade.

“We started this conversation over 10 years ago when we realized how many people were being sent far from home for behavioral health care,” said Smith. “This project answers that need — and in doing so, it brings a $50 million economic impact to our region.”

Smith acknowledged the collaborative efforts of architects, contractors, legislators and internal SIH teams and expressed deep gratitude to the community for their financial and emotional support. “We’re building something together that truly belongs to this community,” he said.

SIH Medical Director of Behavioral Health, Naeem Qureshi, MD, reflected on his two decades of service to SIH Harrisburg Medical Center and the SIH Mulberry Center.

“We’ve been dreaming about this expansion since 2010,” he said. “Our team works with incredible dedication — nurses, social workers, therapists — all making it happen for the patients. This expansion will allow us to better care for individuals with both mental health and medical conditions. There is nothing else like this unit in our region.”

Dr. Qureshi also emphasized the importance of education and stigma reduction. “This facility doesn’t just treat patients — it educates, trains and helps the community understand that mental illness is treatable and recovery is possible.”

Egyptian Health Department CEO Angie Hampton, whose mental health crisis team partners daily with SIH, described the current strain on resources — and the promise of relief.

“Right now, we’re in SIH emergency rooms every day, sometimes multiple times a day, doing assessments,” said Hampton. “When Mulberry is full, which it often is, people get stuck — sometimes for days — because there are no available beds in the state or region.”

“This expansion means more than space. It means access, stability and dignity. It means fewer people will be left waiting in crisis. And it means more compassionate, immediate care for those who need it most.”

Illinois State Sen. Dale Fowler and State Rep. Patrick Windhorst joined the celebration and commended SIH’s leadership and mission.

“What we see today is SIH’s mission in motion,” said Fowler. “This isn’t just about bricks and mortar. This is about meeting a growing crisis with action — reducing barriers and keeping care close to home.”

Windhorst echoed those sentiments: “Southern Illinois has faced a critical shortage of mental health services for years. This expansion is a bold investment in restoring wellness, dignity and stability to our communities. I’m proud to support this work and will continue fighting for better access across rural areas.”

The Director of Operations for Congressman Mike Bost, Myles Nelson, presented a special congressional certificate commemorating the groundbreaking.

“Congressman Bost wishes he could be here today — he’s in session in Washington — but he sends his best regards,” Nelson said. “He was thrilled to support this expansion with letters and advocacy to help bring federal funds back home to Southern Illinois. This recognition will be entered into the Congressional Record to honor the leadership and staff who made this possible.”

Director of Legislative Affairs for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) Heather Eagleton shared remarks on behalf of HFS Director Lizzie Whitehorn and emphasized the state’s investment in health equity.

“We fund $150 million a year for health care collaboratives like this one,” said Eagleton. “This partnership between SIH, hospitals, clinics and social service providers represents exactly what we want to see: a holistic approach to Medicaid and behavioral health. We are thrilled to continue this collaboration and support the work SIH is doing through the Mulberry Center.”

Director of the SIH and Harrisburg Medical Center Foundations Jennifer Sigler, PhD, reminded the audience that community support remains the heart of the project.

“The ‘Hope is Home’ Capital Campaign is our way of putting values into action,” said Sigler. “It’s how we turn generosity into something tangible. We’re not just building walls — we’re building a stronger, more resilient Southern Illinois.”

She recognized the Foundation boards for their leadership and vision, adding, “This moment belongs to everyone who believes in caring for their neighbors.”