LYCNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — Centra is ushering in a new era of mental health support in your community. On Tuesday morning, Centra leaders cut the ribbon on the Centra Behavioral Health Hospital to help meet a critical need in our community.
This new center will expand comprehensive behavioral health services by 25%.
“Based on community needs assessment, this is an ever-present opportunity and need, and we’re just happy to be able to fill that gap,” Taylor Davis, CEO of Centra Behavioral Health Hospital, said.
The new inpatient facility has state-of-the-art resources for patients who are struggling with mental health. The 61,000 square foot space on Simons Run Road offers 72 beds, community spaces, an outdoor courtyard, and clinical areas.
This hospital has three units. One for children, one for adults and one for geriatric patients. Each unit has 24 beds and caters to the needs of that age group. Peter Betz, medical director for Centra Behavioral Health Hospital, said moving to this new facility will provide an increase in benefits for patients.
“The state-of-the-art nature of this facility with outdoor areas and the ability to provide care in a place that’s uplifting with greater windows and a really streamlined mechanism by which we can provide that care is going to be an exciting addition to what we’ve already been doing,” Betz said.
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Centra is partnering with Lifepoint Behavioral Health and using their resources and expertise to offer the best care possible.
“What we believe is: together is better. What we want to accomplish is: one plus one is five in mental health care. Where you take two terrific partners and together do something very special,” Nicki Tessler, President of Lifepoint Behavioral Health, said.
Leaders said they are thrilled to offer this new resource to the community.
“We’re very grateful to be here, to be able to provide these services to the community. We’re in dire need for improvement; there’s unfortunately a paucity of behavioral health services in the community.” Richard Tugman, CEO and President of Centra Health, said. “This will add much-needed capacity for our community.”
Tuesday marked the end of construction, but care will not begin until later in the summer. Centra officials said you can continue seeing your current provider for mental health services in Centra’s network until the doors of this new hospital open.