Acadia Healthcare: Capitol Park Mental Health Hospital Workers Allege Safety and Care Problems; Facility Opened in Sept. 2025

June 30, 2026

A psychiatric hospital that opened less than a year ago to help address Minnesota's shortage of inpatient mental health beds is facing allegations from current and former employees who say chronic understaffing, inadequate security, and patient care concerns have created an unsafe environment for both staff and patients.

Capitol Park Mental Health Hospital in St. Paul began operating in September 2025 as an $80 million investment intended to expand access to psychiatric care at a time when several other health systems were reducing behavioral health services. The 144-bed facility is jointly owned by for-profit Acadia Healthcare and nonprofit Fairview Health Services. However, according to multiple workers interviewed by the Minnesota Star Tribune, the hospital has struggled to safely care for patients while operating with fewer than 50 beds staffed.

Seven current and former employees told the newspaper they either resigned or are considering leaving because of persistent staffing shortages, insufficient security during violent incidents, and what they described as inadequate care for patients with both psychiatric and medical needs. Family members of patients also reportedly complained about delays in medications and treatment planning.

The allegations mirror concerns raised by Minnesota regulators before the hospital was even built. During the approval process in 2022, state officials questioned whether the proposed staffing model and the absence of an emergency department could increase safety risks or negatively affect the quality of patient care.

One experienced nurse said she left after only three months because she routinely worked 12-hour shifts without breaks and lacked adequate security support when patients became aggressive. According to her account, she ultimately resigned after supervisors declined her recommendation to transfer a patient with multiple head injuries and facial swelling to an emergency department following repeated self-inflicted head trauma. In her resignation message, the nurse stated that she no longer felt comfortable practicing in what she believed was an unsafe environment.

The reported complaints come at a time when Minnesota continues to face a shortage of inpatient psychiatric beds, making the success of new facilities particularly significant. Capitol Park was expected to help relieve pressure on emergency departments and hospitals struggling to find psychiatric placements for patients experiencing mental health crises.

Acadia Healthcare did not respond to repeated requests from the Minnesota Star Tribune seeking comment on the allegations. Fairview Health Services, which supplies physicians and advanced practice providers for the hospital, said in a statement that it remains committed to delivering safe, compassionate, patient-centered care. Fairview also noted that Acadia is responsible for the hospital's day-to-day operations.

The allegations have renewed attention on concerns surrounding the operation of private psychiatric hospitals and whether staffing levels and security measures are sufficient to protect vulnerable patients and frontline healthcare workers. While Capitol Park remains in the early stages of expanding its operations, the complaints suggest the hospital continues to face significant operational challenges as it works toward its intended capacity.

It is not clear whether state regulators will launch additional reviews or inspections in response to the reported concerns. However, the allegations highlight ongoing questions about balancing the urgent need for psychiatric beds with maintaining appropriate standards of patient care and workplace safety.

Source: Jeremy Olson, "Workers raise alarm about conditions inside new St. Paul psychiatric hospital," Minnesota Star Tribune, June 30, 2026.