Oceans Behavioral Hospital, 1106 N. I-35, San Marcos, began admitting patients Aug. 12. The 24-bed facility will provide inpatient treatment for people aged 55 and older who experience such psychiatric symptoms as depression, suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts, delusions, hallucinations or an inability to manage daily activities. A typical stay in the hospital will be about two weeks as the patient reaches medical stability, Community Liaison Director Terry Jackson said. Beginning in November the hospital will also offer outpatient services for people aged 21 and older, which will include group and individual therapy sessions for as many as four times a week, Jackson said. Known as the intensive outpatient program and typically lasting from six weeks to four months, the program is for patients who do not require 24-hour supervision but have not seen sufficient improvement in traditional outpatient sessions, such as weekly therapy. Jackson said Oceans Behavioral Hospital hopes to close the gap in access to mental health services in Hays County. "Mental health in this community, I'm sure you know, is just horribly, horribly underserved." she said.