Jess Jamieson is resigning as chief executive officer of Western State Hospital after three years running Washington's largest mental institution.

KUOW reports ( http://is.gd/MZlaJ1) Jamieson announced his resignation Tuesday to the staff at the Lakewood hospital.

Spokeswoman Chris Flowers said Wednesday it was a personal decision. Jamieson said he's taking a "professional pause," and he and his wife decided to carry out long-standing plans to move to Portland.

Jamieson says running Western State is a very challenging job. The hospital had a homicide and suicide this spring. Patient assaults on staff and understaffing are recurring problems.

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Information from: KUOW-FM, http://www.kuow.org/