State and local officials gathered in Lynchburg for the ribbon cutting of the Horizon Behavioral Health Crisis Receiving Center, a new facility that aims to expand behavioral health crisis services in Central Virginia. Governor Glenn Youngkin attended the event, highlighting the center as part of his administration’s efforts to improve access to immediate clinical care and provide alternatives to hospital emergency departments.
The facility will offer walk-in evaluations, 23-hour observation, crisis stabilization, detoxification services, 16 crisis receiving center chairs, and 16 crisis stabilization unit beds. It is also equipped to handle Emergency Custody Order (ECO) and Temporary Detention Order (TDO) transfers, which is expected to reduce wait times and allow law enforcement officers to return more quickly to their regular duties.
“Expanding behavioral health crisis care in Lynchburg is a powerful step for Central Virginia,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “This center gives people a place where help is available right away, where families can find answers instead of uncertainty and where law enforcement can safely transfer individuals in crisis and return to protecting their communities. Horizon has been serving this region for decades, and today we build on that work by ensuring people can get the right help at the moment it matters most – right now.”
Janet V. Kelly, Secretary of Health and Human Resources, stated: “Lynchburg has taken bold action to ensure Virginians in crisis are not left waiting or searching for help. This center offers immediate access to care, skilled and compassionate professionals, and a clear path to stability for individuals and families who need support right away.”
Nelson Smith, Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services added: “Horizon gives Central Virginia something it has never had before: a place built for fast, safe, and expert crisis care. This center reduces strain on hospitals, improves response times, and makes sure that people in crisis receive skilled support at the moment they need it.”
Hallie Pence, Executive Director of Right Help, Right Now said: “The opening of this center shows what Right Help, Right Now looks like on the ground. People in crisis will be able to walk through these doors and be seen quickly, getting the care they need. This is a place designed to bring calm, clarity, and real support to moments that can feel overwhelming.”
Melissa Lucy, CEO of Horizon Behavioral Health commented: “For generations, Horizon has walked alongside this community during its most difficult moments. This new center reflects our commitment to meeting people where they are and giving them care that is timely, professional, and grounded in compassion. It is an investment in our neighbors and in the future of Central Virginia.”
Senator Mark Peake said: “This center will make a real difference for families across Central Virginia. It ensures that when someone is in crisis, they can get help close to home, from people who are prepared to respond quickly and safely. That is an important step forward for our region.”
Delegate Wendell Walker added: “Lynchburg has needed a resource like this for a long time, and Horizon has delivered. This center will help individuals in crisis get the care they need while easing the stress on families, law enforcement, and our hospitals. It is a strong step for our community and our Commonwealth.”
Horizon Behavioral Health will operate the new facility as part of its ongoing collaboration with local hospitals first responders; renovations began last year so that it could also house the region’s Crisis Intervention Team Assessment Center—an effort aimed at improving coordination among agencies involved with ECOs or TDOs.
Funding for this project comes from both state sources—including Governor Youngkin’s Right Help Right Now initiative—and federal investments such as those provided by the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority.
The Right Help Right Now plan represents a $1.4 billion transformation over three years focused on expanding behavioral health resources throughout Virginia by strengthening community-based services enhancing workforce capacity increasing access points so those experiencing crises have appropriate options when seeking urgent assistance.
