Governor Youngkin announces major step forward for behavioral health services with Ridgeview Pavilion project
Bristol, Virginia – Governor Glenn Youngkin, alongside Ballad Health President and CEO Alan Levine, joined federal, state, and local officials in Bristol earlier this week for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of renovations on Ballad Health’s new 24/7 Walk-in Crisis Center at Ridgeview Pavilion. The facility will expand immediate access to behavioral health services for residents of Southwest Virginia, providing around-the-clock care for those in crisis.
The project is a cornerstone of Governor Youngkin’s Right Help, Right Now behavioral health initiative, launched in December 2022 as part of a three-year effort to overhaul Virginia’s mental health system. The initiative aims to ensure that individuals in crisis always have someone to call, professionals to respond, and a safe place to go for help.
Since the program’s launch, Virginia has invested heavily in strengthening behavioral health services, with total funding reaching $1.4 billion. Of that amount, $3.5 million from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services has been earmarked 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 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.”
Delivering Hope and Relief for Families in Crisis
Alan Levine, Chairman and CEO of Ballad Health, emphasized the importance of the new center as a model of public-private cooperation. “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. We are grateful to Governor Glenn Youngkin and the Virginia General Assembly for making this vision a reality.”
The new facility is funded in part through the 2024 Virginia Special Session I Budget Bill and will include more than 6,000 square feet of renovated space at Ridgeview Pavilion. The crisis center will be designed to handle psychiatric evaluation, crisis stabilization, and care coordination, providing a hospital-based environment tailored for individuals experiencing severe behavioral health emergencies. The center is expected to open in fall 2026.
Secretary of Health and Human Resources Janet V. Kelly praised the effort, stating: “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. 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.”
Services Designed for Immediate Behavioral Health Needs
Once completed, the 24/7 center will provide services to individuals facing urgent behavioral health challenges such as suicidal thoughts, homicidal ideation, acute psychosis, and auditory or visual hallucinations. Services will include triage, medical screening exams, psychiatric evaluations, crisis intervention, stabilization, and referrals to longer-term care. Importantly, the facility will not provide treatment for physical illnesses or injuries, allowing its staff to focus entirely on mental and emotional health crises.
Tammy Albright, Vice President and CEO of Ballad Health Behavioral Health Services, highlighted the community impact: “This is a major step forward for our communities. 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.”
Support Across Government and Community
Federal and state lawmakers echoed their support. Congressman Morgan Griffith, representing Virginia’s 9th District, praised the project: “I congratulate Ballad Health, Governor Youngkin and state legislators on their work to deliver critical access for behavioral health care services in Southwest Virginia. 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 Ridgeview Pavilion project reflects the broader goals of Right Help, Right Now, which focuses on six pillars: expanding same-day crisis care access, reducing reliance on law enforcement, increasing community-based services, strengthening prevention and treatment for substance use disorders, prioritizing workforce development, and investing in innovative solutions that build a complete continuum of care.
For families in Bristol and across Southwest Virginia, the new 24/7 Walk-in Crisis Center represents not just a building, but a promise: timely, compassionate care in moments of greatest need.
