LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Michael Webber on Wednesday attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Southeast Michigan Psychiatric Hospital in Northville.
“The opening of this new facility is long-awaited news for patients and their families, and I hope the management is prepared to welcome back patients and protect their rights,” said Webber, R-Rochester Hills. “I’ve heard many heartbreaking stories from families who said the state failed to protect their loved ones at the old Hawthorn Center and felt abandoned when officials didn’t take their complaints seriously.
“I hope this new facility brings meaningful changes to protect patients and ensure this is a place of healing, hope and recovery for all.”
Webber introduced Senate Bills 1115-1122 to require the state to implement reforms recommended in a 2025 independent audit by the Office of the Auditor General. Webber requested the audit in 2023 after hearing tragic accounts from former patients and families with loved ones who received care at the former Hawthorn Center.
Among the audit’s findings were that video surveillance and audio recording systems at the five state-run psychiatric hospitals weren’t working 40% of the time, and nearly 30% of sampled complaints alleging abuse, neglect, serious injury or death weren’t retrieved or acted on for two to 12 days, even though Office of Recipient Rights training materials call for action within 24 hours.
“While this new facility is an important step forward, I will continue working to help mental health patients get the care they need, protect patient rights and give families peace of mind knowing someone is looking out for their loved ones,” Webber said. “When we protect patients and support families, we build stronger families and stronger communities.”
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Editor’s note: The photograph above is available by clicking on the image or visiting SenatorMichaelWebber.com/Photos.
Photo caption: Sen. Michael Webber, R-Rochester Hills, attends the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Southeast Michigan Psychiatric Hospital in Northville. Webber said the new facility is an important step toward protecting patients and ensuring it is a place of healing, hope and recovery. He previously introduced Senate Bills 1115-1122 to require the state to implement reforms recommended in a 2025 independent audit by the Office of the Auditor General.
