Among those attending were U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso; University of Texas at El Paso President Heather Wilson; and state Sen. César Blanco, D-El Paso.

The 42,000-square-foot center, set to open in 2024, will provide behavioral health and wellness services for veterans and their families. It is designed to fill the gap in mental health care and wellness services for veterans, regardless of service, discharge status, family relationship, and their families.

“Our approach shifts from a traditional ‘sick care’ model to one that prioritizes wellness and quality of life,” Dr. Jill Palmer, Endeavors chief of behavioral health, said in a news release. “By integrating services, we can hopefully decrease suicide rates and help veterans live a more fulfilled life.”

The state-of-the-art facility will be the second Veteran Wellness Center built by Endeavors. The first is in San Antonio.

The El Paso center will feature a unique wellness model that integrates mental health care, physical health care, holistic treatments and support services intending to improve quality of life.

In the news release, Air Force veteran and Endeavors President and Chief Operating Officer Chip Fulghum said: “We are excited for the opportunity to bring a holistic approach to wellness to El Paso veterans and their family members.

“From mental health services to fitness and wellness needs, this facility will provide so much to improve the lives of those who have made so many sacrifices for our nation.”

The center will include a mental health clinic, a fitness center accessible to wounded veterans, a cafe, community rooms and a wellness hub.

On-site child care, transition support and assistance with VA benefits will be available, as well as an array of veteran-owned businesses focused on wellness.

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The services will be offered free or at a low cost to veterans and their families.

Co-located at the center will be the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at El Paso, which Endeavors has operated since 2017, the news release said.

“We are proud to bring a Veteran Wellness Center to El Paso. As a veteran, I know firsthand that military service can have lingering effects that impact every aspect of life,” Endeavors Chief Executive Officer Jon Allman said in the news release.

“Housing all these comprehensive services under one roof allows us to provide much-needed services to the men and women who valiantly served our country, as well as their families. Building a Veteran Wellness Center in El Paso is part of our commitment to bring the highest-quality behavioral health and wellness services to those who need it the most.”

Endeavors, which was created in 1969, is a faith-based organization that serves vulnerable people in crisis through its innovative, personalized approach.

For more information on Endeavors, visit endeavors.org.