Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin joined Ballad Health President and CEO Alan Levine today alongside federal, state, and local officials for a groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the launch of Ballad Health’s new 24/7 Walk-in Crisis Center at Ridgeview Pavilion. The new facility will greatly expand access to immediate behavioral health support for Southwest Virginians in crisis.
The new facility aligns with Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Right Help, Right Now behavioral health initiative, launched in December 2022 as a three-year plan to transform Virginia’s behavioral health system so that individuals in crisis have available resources to call, entities to respond to them, and somewhere to go.
Since its launch, mental health and addiction services have been strengthened across the Commonwealth through a wide range of initiatives, legislation, and unprecedented financial investments totaling $1.4 billion. This funding includes $3.5 million that the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services invested for the Ridgeview Pavilion renovation.
“Today we take another step toward ensuring every Virginian can get the right help, right now, no matter where they live,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “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.”
“Behavioral health is among the most urgent challenges facing our communities, and it requires bold, collaborative solutions,” said Alan Levine, chairman and chief executive officer of Ballad Health. “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. We are grateful to Governor Glenn Youngkin and the Virginia General Assembly for making this vision a reality.”
“Today’s groundbreaking is about more than a building—it’s about delivering hope, safety, and timely care to Southwest Virginians when they need it most,” said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Janet V. Kelly. “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. This is what real progress looks like.”
Funded through the 2024 Virginia Special Session I Budget Bill, the new center will be located within Ridgeview Pavilion in Bristol and supported by more than $3 million in state funding. Ballad Health will renovate over 6,000 square feet of clinical space to create a safe, hospital-based environment equipped for psychiatric evaluation, stabilization and care coordination. The Center is expected to open in fall 2026.
Once completed, the walk-in crisis center will provide access to behavioral health professionals – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – to anyone in crisis, eliminating delays and reducing the need for emergency department visits or law enforcement intervention. The Center is intended for patients experiencing behavioral health emergencies such as suicidal or homicidal ideation, acute psychosis, auditory and/or visual hallucinations, or any other extreme mental or emotional crises. It will not provide care for physical illnesses and injuries. Services will include triage, medical screening exams, psychiatric evaluation, crisis intervention and stabilization, with referral and transition to the next level of care.
“This is a major step forward for our communities,” said Tammy Albright, vice president and Chief Executive Officer 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.”
Federal, state, and local lawmakers also voiced strong support for the initiative, recognizing its impact on communities across Southwest Virginia.
“I congratulate Ballad Health, Governor Youngkin and state legislators on their work to deliver critical access for behavioral health care services in Southwest Virginia,” said Congressman Morgan Griffith of Virgina’s 9th District. “By launching a 24/7 walk-in behavioral health clinic at Ridgeview Pavilion, families and patients can receive immediate services and help in Bristol.”
The Right Help, Right Now plan is built on six pillars that provide the foundation for transforming Virginia’s behavioral health system. These pillars ensure same-day access to crisis care, reduce the reliance on law enforcement, and expand community-based services beyond hospitals. The plan also strengthens prevention and treatment for substance use disorders, prioritizes the behavioral health workforce, and advances innovative solutions across prevention, crisis response, and recovery—closing gaps and building a stronger continuum of care for every Virginian.
Read the Right Help, Right Now plan here.
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