A new 24/7 Walk-In Crisis Center broke ground at Ridgeview Pavilion Monday. The opening is part of Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s three-year initiative Right Help, Right Now to transform Virginia’s behavioral health system so individuals can find the help they need, when they need it.
Joined by Ballad Health President and CEO Alan Levine and federal, state, and local officials, Youngkin said the new facility will expand access to behavioral health support for Virginians, no matter where they live.
“By expanding crisis care in Southwest Virginia, we are strengthening the safety net for families in need and easing the strain on emergency rooms and law enforcement,” Youngkin said in a statement.
Since the initiative’s launch in December 2022, financial investments into mental health and addiction services have reached $1.4 billion. That includes $3.5 million from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for the Ridgeview Pavilion renovation.
“Behavioral health is among the most urgent challenges facing our communities, and it requires bold, collaborative solutions,” Levine said. “This center is a public-private investment that ensures people in crisis have immediate, around-the-clock access to safe, compassionate care — while also easing pressure on our emergency departments.”
Secretary of Health and Human Resources Janet Kelly said the groundbreaking is delivering hope, safety, and timely care to Southwest Virginians.
“Right Help, Right Now is transforming our behavioral health system from end to end, and this new 24/7 Walk-In Crisis Center ensures that families in Bristol and surrounding communities are no longer left waiting in their darkest hours,” Kelly said. “This is what real progress looks like.”
Ballad Health will renovate the more than 6,000 square-foot space and equip it for psychiatric evaluation, stabilization and care coordination. The facility is expected to open in Fall of 2026.
The center is intended for patients experiencing behavioral health emergencies, including suicidal or homicidal ideation, acute psychosis, audio and/or visual hallucinations, and any other mental or emotional crisis that warrants immediate care.
“This is a major step forward for our communities,” said Tammy Albright, vice president and CEO of Ballad Health Behavioral Health Services. “For too long, families in crisis have faced limited options. By providing crisis care that’s available around the clock, we’re relieving pressure on our emergency departments, supporting law enforcement and, most importantly, offering hope and healing for individuals and families who need it most.”
