Riverside Health System is thrilled to announce a strategic name change for Riverside Behavioral Health Center (RBHC) to better align the evolving mission and enhanced services offered for mental health in the region. The new name, Riverside Mental Health & Recovery Center (RMHRC), reflects Riverside’s commitment to providing comprehensive care for those facing mental health and substance use challenges.
“Over the last several years, we have expanded our services to better support the growing needs of those in our community, and we began to feel like our name didn’t embody all of the services we provide here,” said Stacey Johnson, president of RMHRC. “With this understanding, we started thinking about how substance use disorders were reflected in our name and wanted to create an opportunity of hope and to show that recovery is possible — that’s when we developed the name Riverside Mental Health & Recovery Center.”
The center was founded in 1960 by Dr. Wendell Pile, a well-known local psychiatrist, and was first known as the Bayberry Psychiatric Hospital. In 1978, the facility was renamed the Peninsula Psychiatric Hospital, and in 1983, its location on Executive Drive in Hampton, Virginia, opened. In 2000, Riverside Health System purchased the facility and thereby committed to offering expanded mental health services to the greater Hampton Roads community.
“The foundation of RMHRC remains firmly dedicated to caring for patients, both adolescents and adults, through inpatient care or outpatient support for addiction services,” said Ryan McQueen, M.D., chief of behavioral health and medical director for Adolescent Services at RMHRC. “The name change reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering a welcoming and empowering environment for our patients to begin their journey to recovery and healing.”
The facility offers adult acute-care services, an adolescent treatment unit, inpatient detoxification services, outpatient addiction support and other addiction services. The RMHRC will also offer a new psychiatric emergency department, scheduled to open later this year.
The reflection of the new name, RMHRC, will continue to evolve over the next four weeks as they update assets, materials, and signage.
If you or your loved ones need help, Riverside’s team of professionals has the experience and expertise to assist you on your path to wellness. To learn more about Riverside Mental Health and Recovery Center and its community services, please call 757-827-3119 or visit riversideonline.com/rmhrc.