There has been a significant five-year increase in hospital admissions involving patients with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and autism spectrum disorder, according to an analysis by the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.
With the increased demand, a recent summit aimed to connect behavioral health providers and advocates to strategize ways to improve outcomes throughout Virginia.
The 2025 Virginia Behavioral Health Summit, held on Thursday in Richmond, was designed for stakeholders to collaborate on tactics to enhance care.
While private hospitals have added hundreds of adult and pediatric psychiatric beds in recent years, the demand for admissions, voluntary and involuntary, continues to exceed the availability.
“As the demand for behavioral health services grow, hospitals across Virginia are investing in enhancing treatment capacity and working with public and private sector partners to develop new strategies to meet community treatment needs,” said Sean Connaughton, VHHA President and CEO.
In 2024, data shows that Virginia’s private hospitals accommodated nearly 58,300 (91.65 percent) of the approximately 63,600 total behavioral health inpatient admissions across private and state psychiatric hospitals.
The summit, he said, was “an opportunity for clinicians, hospital leaders, community partners and policymakers to renew our sense of purpose and convene as part of the ongoing work to strengthen the continuum of care.”
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Presenters also shared information on the potential role of Artificial Intelligence in enhancing care, the expansion of Virginia’s crisis care system and advances in behavioral health technology.
Participants in the summit included representatives from:
- Ballad Health
- Bon Secours – Richmond
- Carilion Clinic
- Centra
- Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU
- Hampton Police Department
- HopeLink Behavioral Health
- Inova
- Riverside Health
- Sentara Health
- Valley Health
- VCU Health
- VHC Health
- Virginia Beach Psychiatric Center
- Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
- VHHA
- Virginia Treatment Center for Children
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Crystal Graham
