New Bedford Community Health Opens New Behavioral Health Facility in New Bedford

New Bedford Community Health and Wellness transforms the former Bamboo Garden property into a dedicated home for behavioral health and mental health services

NEW BEDFORD, MA, UNITED STATES, August 27, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — — New Bedford Community Health (NBCH) celebrated the ribbon cutting and grand opening of New Bedford Community Health and Wellness, its new dedicated behavioral health facility in New Bedford, on Wednesday, August 26. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, hosted in partnership with the One SouthCoast Chamber, marked a significant investment in expanding access to behavioral health and mental health services for individuals and families throughout the Greater New Bedford community.

Located in the former Bamboo Garden restaurant, New Bedford Community Health and Wellness will serve as the new home of NBCH’s Behavioral Health Department. New Bedford Community Health purchased the property in November 2023 after the longtime Chinese restaurant had remained closed since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The project transforms a familiar New Bedford property into a space dedicated to behavioral health, wellness, healing, and connection while expanding NBCH’s ability to provide comprehensive, community-based care.

The grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together NBCH leadership and staff, community partners, local and federal officials, and invited guests to celebrate the new facility and its role in expanding access to behavioral health care in New Bedford.

Among those in attendance were U.S. Congressman William Keating, Massachusetts State Representatives 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 who joined NBCH in recognizing the importance of accessible behavioral health services and continued investment in the health and well-being of the New Bedford community.

Recognizing the increasing need for mental health and wellness services. NBCH purchased the vacated property with a generous major gift from a philanthropic foundation to renovate and dedicate for this purpose. Congressman Bill Keating did not hesitate to advocate for congressional funding for this project, which made our dream become a reality. The facility was designed to create a quiet and comforting setting to help people feel welcome and at home while receiving care.

— Cheryl Bartlett, CEO, New Bedford Community Health

Expanding Access to Behavioral Health Services in New Bedford

At New Bedford Community Health, behavioral health is an essential part of whole-person care. NBCH’s licensed Behavioral Health professionals work with patients experiencing a range of behavioral and mental health concerns, including depression, stress, grief, chronic pain, and other challenges that can affect an individual’s overall health and well-being.

The opening of New Bedford Community Health and Wellness provides a dedicated, welcoming environment for patients receiving behavioral health care while giving NBCH’s Behavioral Health team additional space to meet the needs of the community.

The facility also represents a new chapter for a property familiar to generations of New Bedford residents. Once a place where members of the community gathered around a meal, the former Bamboo Garden building has been reimagined as a place where individuals and families can find care, connection, and support.

Investing in Whole-Person Health and Wellness
New Bedford Community Health and Wellness is part of NBCH’s broader commitment to increasing access to comprehensive health care and addressing the physical, behavioral, and social factors that influence health.

By integrating behavioral health services with its broader network of health care and supportive services, New Bedford Community Health works to ensure that patients can access care for both their physical and emotional well-being.

Funding for this state-of-the-art facility was a top priority for my Community Project Funding submissions – a competitive process that provides federal support to local initiatives. New Bedford Community Health is an anchor in our community, and this new dedicated behavioral health facility is a necessary complement to their existing services. NBCH is investing in holistic healthcare for their patients and the federal support secured is an endorsement of this approach and an investment in New Bedford.

— U.S. Congressman William Keating

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, guests were invited to tour New Bedford Community Health and Wellness, meet members of the Behavioral Health team, and learn more about the services available to patients.

For more information about behavioral health services at New Bedford Community Health, visit our Behavioral Health service page.

About New Bedford Community Health
New Bedford Community Health (NBCH) is a nonprofit, multicultural community health center in downtown New Bedford, Massachusetts. NBCH provides comprehensive, high-quality health care to approximately 25,000 patients each year and is the only provider of primary care services located in the City of New Bedford.

NBCH provides primary care, pediatrics, women’s health, behavioral health, dental care, urgent care, office-based addiction treatment, WIC, care management, insurance enrollment assistance, and additional health and supportive services to the Greater New Bedford community.

For more than four decades, NBCH has remained committed to equitable, patient-centered, community-focused care for all residents of Southeastern Massachusetts, regardless of their ability to pay.

Tabitha Silva: Marketing and Communications Specialist
New Bedford Community Health
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Written By: EIN Presswire