Governor Glenn Youngkin participated in a groundbreaking ceremony in Bristol to mark the launch of Ballad Health’s new 24/7 Walk-in Crisis Center at Ridgeview Pavilion. The event included Ballad Health President and CEO Alan Levine, as well as federal, state, and local officials. The center aims to improve access to immediate behavioral health support for residents of Southwest Virginia.
The facility is part of Governor Youngkin’s Right Help, Right Now behavioral health initiative, which began in December 2022 as a three-year plan to overhaul Virginia’s behavioral health system. The initiative seeks to ensure that individuals experiencing crises have resources available for support, response, and care.
Since the start of the initiative, mental health and addiction services across Virginia have seen enhancements through various programs, legislative measures, and financial investments totaling $1.4 billion. Of this amount, $3.5 million from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services has been allocated for renovations at Ridgeview Pavilion.
“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.”
Alan Levine emphasized the importance of collaboration: “Behavioral health is among the most urgent challenges facing our communities, and it requires bold, collaborative solutions,” he 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. We are grateful to Governor Glenn Youngkin and the Virginia General Assembly for making this vision a reality.”
Janet V. Kelly, Secretary of Health and Human Resources, noted that the project goes beyond infrastructure: “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,” she said. “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.”
The new center will be located within Ridgeview Pavilion in Bristol with over $3 million in state funding provided through the 2024 Virginia Special Session I Budget Bill. Ballad Health plans to renovate more than 6,000 square feet of clinical space for psychiatric evaluation, stabilization services and care coordination. The opening is expected by fall 2026.
When operational, the walk-in crisis center will offer continuous access—24 hours a day—to behavioral health professionals for anyone experiencing a crisis situation such as suicidal or homicidal thoughts or acute psychosis. It will not treat physical illnesses or injuries but will provide triage services including medical screening exams; psychiatric evaluation; crisis intervention; stabilization; referrals; and transition planning.
Tammy Albright of Ballad Health Behavioral Health Services described its impact: “This is a major step forward for our communities,” she said.“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 individualsand families who need it most.”
Congressman Morgan Griffith expressed his support: “I congratulate Ballad Health,Gov ernor Youngkinand state legislators on their workto deliver critical accessfor behavioral healthcare servicesin SouthwestVirginia.By launchinga 24/7 walk-inbehavioralhealthclinicatRidgeviewPavilion,familiesand patientscan receiveimmediateservicesand helpinBristol.”
The Right Help,Righ tNowplanis structuredaround six pillarsto transformVirginia’sbehavioralhealthsystem.These include same-dayaccesstocrisiscare,reducingrelianceonlawenforcement,andexpandingcommunity-basedservices.Theplanalsostrengthenspreventionandtreatmentforsubstanceusedisorders,supportsbehavioralhealthworkforcegrowth,andpromotesinnovativesolutionsacrossprevention,response,andrecovery.
