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HAMILTON - Mental health patients in Ravalli County will get more attention and space as construction on a crisis stabilization center is set to begin by this weekend.

Workers marked where the corners of the future facility will stand in a lot near the Marcus Daly Rehabilitation Center on Westwood Drive on Thursday.

The hospital board and staff say it was important to donate the property for the purpose of serving mental health.

The program is currently housed in a single hospital room and patients don't receive care right away. But, hospital CEO John Bartos says the new county-run facility will change that.

"With the county's ability to raise funds, grants, etc., we now are able to have a facility that will house mental health patients that need the appropriate care starting immediately. Those patients who need to be admitted involuntarily and those who come in voluntarily.">

Workers also want to remind drivers they will have to find somewhere else to park during construction as the space soon won't allow for the number of cars that typically use the lot for parking.