RICHMOND, VA — Governor Glenn Youngkin today commemorated a historic milestone in Virginia’s fight to strengthen behavioral health, celebrating three years of Right Help, Right Now, one of the most significant statewide behavioral health transformations in the nation.
Launched in December 2022 as a Day One promise to the people of Virginia, Right Help, Right Now has fundamentally reshaped how care is delivered. The Commonwealth has moved from a system frequently unable to meet the needs of individuals in crisis to one that delivers faster access, stronger support, and renewed hope for individuals and families.
Just three years ago, Virginia’s behavioral health system could not meet the Virginians needs at their most critical time. Crisis response was fragmented, with only 36 mobile crisis teams and just 249 crisis care beds and chairs available statewide. Law enforcement was often the first responder to behavioral health crises, even when no crime occurred, pulling officers away from community safety duties and placing individuals in crisis in the wrong environment. At the same time, families waited months and sometimes years for behavioral health services, including developmental disability supports. Fentanyl devastated communities and young lives. Virginians asked for change and the Commonwealth listened.
The outcomes since then have been significant. Lives are being saved, families are stronger, law enforcement is receiving the right support, and communities are safer and more compassionate. With $1.4 billion dollars in investments, more than 60 bipartisan laws, and 130 coordinated initiatives, Virginia is now meeting people where they are, whether in crisis, recovery, or everyday life.
“From Day One, we set out to rebuild a behavioral health system that truly puts people first,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “Today, Virginians have faster access to care, more support in moments of crisis, and new hope for recovery and stability. This transformation belongs to the families, providers, and communities who stood with us to demand something better.”
“We are breaking the stigma that keeps people silent,” said First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin. “Through the It Only Takes One fentanyl awareness initiative and our work to support youth mental health, we have empowered Virginians to look out for one another, recognize when someone is struggling and take action. Every life has value and every person deserves the chance to heal and thrive.”
“This transformation has always been about the people of Virginia,” said Chief of Staff John Littel. “We rebuilt this system piece by piece with one purpose, to serve individuals and families with dignity and compassion. The work must continue, and it will take all of us to carry it forward. What we have begun together can strengthen the Commonwealth for generations.”
“The Right Help, Right Now initiative is special and effective because it foundationally assumes that each Virginian has inherent dignity and worth,” said Secretary Janet V. Kelly. “Because of the hard work of so many, Right Help Right Now is more than a plan; it’s alive in the hearts and minds of the citizens of the Commonwealth who need it.”
“When a Virginian is in crisis, every second matters,” said Hallie Pence, Executive Director of Right Help, Right Now. “Across Virginia, we have built and expanded the continuum of care so regardless of the day or time, they can receive the quality of care at the appropriate level in their own community. That is the strengthening of care and the difference this transformation has made.”
Putting Virginians First Across All Six Pillars of Reform
Pillar 1: Same Day Crisis Care
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline engagement increased dramatically, growing from roughly 5,500 monthly contacts in early 2023 to 30,582 calls, 3,406 chats, and 3,342 texts per month now.Mobile crisis teams expanded from 36 to 110, now responding statewide, 24 hours a day.Crisis responses grew fifteenfold, rising from 500 per month to 7,594 in November 2025.Crisis care capacity is on track to nearly double, increasing from 249 to 460 beds and chairs by the end of the year, with an additional 374 more in development to triple capacity.Integrated 988 and 911 systems ensure the closest and most appropriate response every time.
Virginians in crisis can receive help the moment they reach out regardless of the time of day.
Pillar 2: Supporting Law Enforcement and Reducing Criminalization
Co-response programs expanded from 10 to 17 communities, with 10 more in development, ensuring clinical response when no crime has occurred.Alternative custody and transport saved law enforcement more than 1.95 million miles, significantly reducing time away from public safety duties.Behavioral health clinicians now respond in situations where no crime has occurred, improving outcomes for individuals in crisis.Officers remain focused on public safety while individuals in crisis receive specialized care from trained clinicians.
Crisis care is being handled by the professionals trained to provide it.
Pillar 3: Community Based Capacity
Assertive Community Treatment teams expanded from 43 to 64, supporting Virginians with the greatest needs.School based behavioral health services grew from 6 to 23 divisions, now reaching 20,423 students.Developmental disability waiver slots increased from 16,939 to 21,479, providing 4,540 more families with needed support.The Virginia Mental Health Access Program expanded statewide, giving pediatricians rapid access to psychiatric consultation and improving behavioral health care for children.The Adult Psychiatric Access Line program expanded community-based stabilization services for youth, helping families access care sooner and avoid higher level placements.Community living supports expanded, adding 100 new small group home beds and strengthening hospital discharge pathways so individuals can return home safely.
Care is happening where people live, learn, and work.
Pillar 4: Reducing Overdoses and Expanding Recovery
Fatal fentanyl overdoses dropped 59 percent since January 2022, reversing years of steady increases and saving lives across the Commonwealth.Among Virginians under 25, fatal fentanyl overdoses decreased 56.6 percent from 2021 to 2024, reflecting the impact of youth-focused prevention and early intervention.Naloxone access dramatically expanded, resulting in 430,000 doses distributed and 97,000 Virginians REVIVE! trained to respond to an overdose.Virginia’s peer recovery workforce more than doubled, expanding access to support from individuals who have walked the same path.Prevention and youth education efforts reached millions, equipping families, schools, and communities with the knowledge to identify warning signs and intervene early.The Substance Use Disorder Analytics platform launched statewide on October 1, 2025, giving Virginia real time data to strengthen prevention, response, and recovery efforts.
More Virginians are accessing treatment sooner and finding hope in recovery, and fewer Virginians are dying from overdoses.
Pillar 5: Strengthening the Behavioral Health Workforce
Regulatory barriers were reduced by 25 percent, simplifying requirements and accelerating hiring so Virginians can access care more quickly.Early entry pathways now connect high school students and early career candidates to behavioral health professions, and the Be the Change website promotes these careers by linking Virginians to training programs and job opportunities statewide.Workforce stabilization investments, loan repayment programs, and new licensure pathways strengthened retention and expanded the number of clinicians serving in the highest need communities.
A stronger workforce means faster access to care for every Virginian.
Pillar 6: Innovation, Medicaid Modernization, and Outcomes
Commercial insurers now cover crisis stabilization services statewide, expanding access to same day care and reducing reliance on publicly funded services.Medicaid reforms strengthened support and care coordination for youth and families, improving access to community based behavioral health services.New quality and accountability measures modernized Virginia’s behavioral health system, improving oversight and service delivery across community-based programs.Innovation initiatives strengthened system infrastructure and improved the flow of information across providers and agencies.
Virginia is building a behavioral health system that delivers better outcomes and long-term stability.
A Legacy for the Future
The celebration at the Library of Virginia featured 36 visual displays chronicling the transformation: crisis services expanding statewide, overdose deaths declining, community capacity growing, and stories of resilience from across the Commonwealth.
Governor Youngkin concluded:
“This work is not finished. Every Virginian deserves hope. Every Virginian deserves help. And in Virginia, they will receive it.”
Governor Youngkin’s Right Help, Right Now initiative is a three-year, $1.4 billion transformation of Virginia’s behavioral health system focused on expanding crisis care, strengthening community-based services, improving the behavioral health workforce, and ensuring Virginians in crisis have someone to call, someone to respond, and a safe place to go.